Patience will be key for Los Angeles Clippers fans as Darius Garland emphasized that aspect while the team goes through preseason action.

Garland has been playing in the NBA since 2019, going through his second year with the Clippers. He previously represented the Cleveland Cavaliers before they traded him last season to Los Angeles for James Harden.

Garland now stands out as one of the main faces of the Clippers. The team traded superstar Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and picks. This indicates the start of a new era for the franchise, resulting in Garland stressing patience from fans for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

“Got a lot of new faces coming in, so we definitely have to be patient. Got to work through a lot of bumps and bruises. It's a long season, get better every game, will get better every year, and this too shall pass,” Garland said.

"Got a lot of new faces coming in, so we definitely have to be patient. Got to work through a lot of bumps and bruises. It's a long season, get better every game, will get better every year, and this too shall pass"

– Darius Garland 🗣️

(via @andscape) pic.twitter.com/eOTOVOlmFW

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 5, 2026

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What lies ahead for Darius Garland, Clippers this season

Darius Garland and the Clippers got their preseason underway against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. They came out of it with a 103-101 win thanks to a game-winning basket from Keaton Wagler.

Los Angeles controlled the game for stretches, even leading 55-43 at halftime. Golden State fought back with runs of their own before taking the lead, resulting in Wagler's clutch highlight in the last 20 seconds of the night.

Three players scored in double-digits for Los Angeles in the win, including Garland. Rui Hachimura led the team with a stat line of 21 points, five rebounds and a block. He shot 8-of-11 overall, including 4-of-5 from downtown. Garland came next with 15 points and six assists, Keaton Wagler had 15 points and six rebounds, while Baba Miller provided nine points and six rebounds.

The Clippers will look forward to their next preseason contest, facing the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. ET. Their regular season starts at home against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 21 at 10:30 p.m. ET.