Former All-Star guard Jeff Teague reacted to Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland saying that he wanted to go at Teague, Lou Willliams and other veterans when he entered the NBA.
“I feel bad because Jeff is my guy,” Garland said. “I’m an Indiana kid. I was watching Jeff when I was growing up when he was in high school.”
Garland said that he “looked up” to “old heads” like Teague when he came into the league.
“Even you, Lou,” Garland said to Lou Williams. “I wanted to come kill you when we was playing the [Los Angeles] Clippers, bro. I’m not gonna lie.”
Garland said he felt bad, but “it is what it is” because he was trying to prove himself.
Teague later responded on his podcast, but he first shouted Garland out for his 39-point, nine-assist game against the Houston Rockets on Jan. 25.
“I’m going with my dog Darius Garland – 39 and 9,” Teague said, referencing Garland’s last game. “Indiana kid, he gon’ hold it down for the fam.”
Teague was then asked if he saw Garland talking about him.
“I appreciate it,” Teague said. “He definitely showed no mercy.”
Then, Teague’s co-host Brandon Hendricks said that Garland was talking “big s—,” jokingly saying to get the old heads out of the league.
Garland, a one-time All-Star himself, is looking to get back into the All-Star game this season, and he has the play to back it up.
Not only has Garland helped lead the Cavs to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference so far this season, but he’s also averaging 21.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game while shooting a career-high 50.1 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Garland has taken a massive step forward when it comes to his efficiency, as he shot just 44.6 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from 3 last season. The Cavs still made the playoffs last season, but it’s clear that Garland’s improved play has helped vault them to the top of the Eastern Conference.
It’s nice to see the back and forth between Garland and Teague, and it’s clear that there is a mutual respect between the two players. Hopefully, Garland can continue to play at a high level to raise his profile in the NBA this season and going forward in his career.
