How tall is Darius Garland? His real height is 6’1 (185 cm), with a wingspan of 6’5 (196 cm), and his weight is 192 pounds (87 kg).
The NBA is a league of big men. All players, ranging from guards and wings to forwards and centers, tend to have large frames. Every once in a while, however, there are some amazing players who don’t have a lot of size. That includes Darius Garland.
The Cavaliers’ guard is on the smaller side of NBA players. Even so, he’s made a name for himself. The following sections will analyze his dimensions and look at how he plays the game to see exactly how that happened.
Answering the Call
In basketball, guards have always been the shortest players on the floor. While big men tend to stand only a few feet below the rim, points and wings have more compact frames. That’s because they rely on speed in order to find shots, slash to the basket, and get open.
Despite that, points are only getting taller over time. Where most were right above six feet tall back in the 80’s and 90’s, the average ones in the current NBA stand right above 6’2. That may not seem like a massive bump, but in a sport like basketball it makes a big difference.
Guards typically need size to succeed in the sport today, but that’s not always true. There are still some who do a lot with smaller frames as well.
Small, but Mighty
Compared to most humans, Darius Garland is a large man. In the NBA, he’s pretty short. The shifty point guard stands 6’1, putting him below the average height for his position, and weighs in at a modest 192 pounds. Despite those dimensions, he’s a great player.
The reason for that is twofold. Not only does he have plenty of talent and an uncanny knack for getting the ball into the hoop, but his arms make up for his frame as well.
Garland’s wingspan measures 6’5. Most players in the league, regardless of position, tend to have a reach that’s one or two inches longer than their height. Three shows up as well, but anything past that is a true rarity. That’s a big reason Garland has been able to succeed.
His long arms allow him to both defend and score like a much bigger player. He can shoot over his competition, block shots that would normally go uncontested, knock down passes that would normally be out of reach, and dribble around multiple defenders at once.
His height might be a drawback in certain situations, but his wingspan overcompensates for it just fine.
Other Ways to Play
Beyond his arms, Garland also has an inherent knack for the game of basketball. There are plenty of short guards in the NBA and NCAA that succeed without a long reach. They make up for it with a deadly three pointer, amazing basketball IQ, or an unmatched quickness.
Garland ticks all of those boxes, providing the Cavs with a point guard who can do a bit of everything. He can score in a variety of ways, but also has enough awareness to dish out assists and even snag the odd rebound every now and then.
He’s a complete player who fits perfectly in the modern league. He’s not going to bang down low or constantly try to score in the key. Even so, he’s able to stretch the court and make the right play at the right time. It’s hard to ask for more than that.
Final Words
Garland shows that, despite what it might seem, there’s more to the NBA than just height. Not all short players are able to do what he does, but there are quite a few who didn’t let their size hold them back. He didn’t just give up, he adapted and found another way to play the game.
