Darius Garland shares true feelings on seeing Cavs’ ECF exit

The New York Knicks are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since their most recent appearance in 1999, and they advanced with a clean four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Final.

The Cavaliers, who enjoyed series victories over the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons before facing the Knicks, weren’t able to carry that momentum and were halted by New York’s balanced attack.

For former Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland, who was traded in the middle of the season to the Los Angeles Clippers, he said that it was “lowkey tough” to see his former teammates struggle against the Knicks while making an appearance on the Ball In The Family podcast.

“Playoffs over with for them,” Garland said via Hoodi Garland on X, formerly known as Twitter. “It was lowkey tough to watch, especially seeing how we were playing early on in the year. Seeing such a total 180, something totally different on the court. It is what it is.”

Darius Garland thoughts on Cavs playoff run:

“Playoffs over with for them. It was lowkey tough to watch, especially seeing how we were playing early on in the year. Seeing such a total 180, something totally different on the court. It is what it is.” pic.twitter.com/fAWqBrQsvL

— ¹⁰ (@HoodiGarland) June 2, 2026

Garland was in the middle of his seventh season with the Cavs before they shipped him to the Clippers in exchange for James Harden and a future second-round draft pick. While the trade wasn’t easy at first, he later said he rediscovered his joy for basketball.

“It’s been great, bro,” Garland said via Bleacher Report. “Coming to a system where I can actually be me. Have the ball in my hand for the majority of the game and actually have control of the pace of the game. Just being like a second coach out there, literally. It was fun when I was out there playing, for sure. I got my joy back.”

The post Darius Garland shares true feelings on seeing Cavs’ ECF exit appeared first on ClutchPoints.