Darius Garland: I am ready to assume the responsibilities of leadership.

Los Angeles Clippers point guard Darius Garland said he is ready to take on leadership responsibilities and emphasized that his mindset has not changed.

Darius Garland, 26, previously played for the Cleveland Cavaliers but was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in February of this year.

When asked if he still had that drive, Darius Garland said, "Absolutely 1000%, and it's not just because of the trade itself, but everything that happened afterward. Back then, everyone basically thought my NBA career was over. But now, I want to rediscover that spark and get back to the All-Star level I know."

“A lot has happened in the past, but everything eventually becomes the past. I was indeed a little surprised by the trade at the time, but I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later. However, my mindset has never changed.”

Darius Garland shared, "When I was traded here last season, they wanted me to be the leader of the team, the spark that drives the team forward. We can play faster, pass the ball better, and speed up the pace of the game. So my mindset hasn't changed, and in fact, we've become better."

“I’ve been through a lot in my career, and now I’m ready to take on leadership responsibilities, especially now that I’m in my eighth season. I feel like I’ve rediscovered myself a bit and I know what I want to achieve.”

In addition, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors 104-101 in an NBA preseason game, after scoring by Rui Hachimura, Darius Garland and Keaton Wagler.

Regarding the new season, Darius Garland said, "Please be patient. A lot has happened, but we just need to focus on the games. There are a lot of new faces on the team, so we really need to be patient."

"We have to go through a lot of ups and downs, even though we all hope to win games frequently. It's a long season, and we have to strive to get better in every game and improve every year, and all these difficulties will eventually pass."

Image source: Internet