In this YouTube panel, Draymond Green asks Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland about the team's chances to win Cleveland's first NBA championship since 2016. Garland cites the Cavs' deep roster, strong coaching staff led by J.B. Bickerstaff, defensive versatility, and experience from previous playoff runs as key factors, while acknowledging competition from teams like the Warriors, Kings, and Timberwolves. The conversation then shifts to Garland's admiration for former Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose. Garland recounts growing up in Gary, Indiana, his early jersey, and his rookie preseason matchup against Rose, describing Rose's relentless drive, quickness, and explosiveness that inspired him despite lacking comparable athleticism. They discuss Rose's knee surgery and the physical toll of the NBA, with Garland noting his own age (25) and past injuries. The panel ends with lighthearted banter comparing Garland's hometown of Gary to Draymond's Saginaw, highlighting cultural differences and personal pride.
Chapters
Why do you feel like this is the year y'all can get over that hump and capture your first ring, Cleveland's first ring since 2016, and, you know, second ring all time?
Man, just the talent that we have. Our depth is insane. We can go 9, 10 deep. Which a lot of teams really can't do. I think that's—
Truthfully.
Another notch. And then our coaching staff is really good, bro. Y'all hit on it earlier with K.A. just being so intense and being so detailed in scouts and everybody around him that helps is really locked in on both sides of the ball and actually understand the game and actually been in some important games in their careers as well. So they know what it's like. And then back to our team is we've been in some of those important games now too. We had a couple playoff appearances, so we know what it's like. We know what the physicality is like, and we know what it's like in that last 6 minutes of a close game in a playoff series. We gonna have to really take care of the ball and execute at a high level and defend at a high level. And with those two big 7-footers back there at the all defensive level, I think they can take us anywhere with the competition and the spirit that we play with. I think we have a good chance, man. But another team in that green is, they hungry for another one as well. And also KC in the West and Minnesota over there as well. And Golden State, y'all never know sleepers with the talent that y'all have. So it's gonna be tough, but I think we have a chance for sure.
You talked about how Chicago and Derrick Rose is one of your favorites growing up. You know, tell us about why he is one of your favorites and like what aspect of his game do you try to implement into yours?
I'm a Gary, Indiana kid, born and raised in Gary, Indiana, by the way, in Nashville. But yeah, that number 1 jersey, that was the first jersey I've had and that was the only one I've had. I just got rid of it when, I moved to my house in Cleveland. So probably like my second, second year of the league, that's when I got rid of the jersey.
Wow.
But then my rookie year, my first preseason game was against D-Rose when he was in Detroit.
That's crazy.
I was like, man, this is insane.
That's wild.
But just going to the United Center, bro, just making that little drive to the city, That was my grandmother's favorite team. So we used to watch that going to over at her house. We used to watch all the games growing up with Kirk Heinrich, Ben Gordon, and all the other guys. But man, D-Rose just had the whole region on lock, like from Indiana to Chicago, damn near the whole world. Not even gonna lie to you.
Yeah.
But just his relentlessness, bro. He was just relentless. Like, you know, get it by any means necessary. He couldn't shoot it as well, but just his handle, his quickness, and just getting to the paint, shooting a floater, using his athleticism, which I don't have. Wish I had, but—
Nobody got his athleticism, bro.
Yeah, bro, just his explosiveness was insane. He just brought so much excitement to the city. And then like as a young kid, just watching him on a night-to-night basis, it was super cool to see the youngest MVP in the league. It just brought so much inspiration for us. Like we used to lower the goal so I can go dunk like D-Rose.
For sure.
DG, you had some bounce. You had some, can you still dunk? You had some bounce.
I can still dunk.
First.
You can still dunk the ball? Hey, I had some bounce, DG.
Did he?
You know, this NBA will take your legs from you.
He had that knee surgery, man, and I'm getting old, bro. I turned 25 this year.
Oh my goodness. His insurance about to go down, ladies and gentlemen. His car insurance is about to go down.
That's pretty amazing. Yeah, I did have bouts in high school and college though. I had a couple bodies in my day, you know, but until I get to the floater now, I'm trying to save a couple of those bounces. Yeah.
And by the way, for those of y'all that don't know or don't understand, he said that short drive and you probably like short drive from Nashville. DG the PG is from Scary Gary, Indiana. For those of y'all that don't know. Scary Gary. Yes, he is.
Scary Gary, the next great place to shoot a horror movie. Y'all got so many vacant buildings.
All it is is churches and liquor stores abandoned houses. I love this city though.
Absolutely. That's Saginaw for you. Saginaw the same way.
Nah, Saginaw ain't like Gary, Indiana.
I'm just telling you.
Saginaw got cows and farms.
You think Gary, Indiana don't? The part of Saginaw I'm from don't have farms, but if you drive far enough out, you gonna find a farm.
But not in Gary, bro.
Yeah, it's no farm sitting in Saginaw, but you drive far enough out, you gonna find a farm.
You better believe it. D'Alparaiso and Hammond, you might, you gonna catch a farm for sure. G and Gary though? Nope. You ain't finding nothing.
