Darius Garland averaged 18.8 points and 6.7 assists on 58.2 percent true shooting last season, but he did it in only 45 of the Clippers' 82 games. With Brandon Ingram out to start this season, Garland's playmaking load grows before his durability has been tested again.
His efficiency last season matched his volume.
Garland scored 18.8 points per game on 46.0 percent shooting and 39.6 percent from three, attempting 6.8 threes a night. His 58.2 percent true shooting and 117.9 offensive rating came with a 26.6 percent usage rate, a workload most guards cannot sustain at that efficiency. He also posted 6.7 assists against 2.9 turnovers, a 32.2 percent assist rate that made him the team's primary table-setter whenever he played.
The games missed are the real caveat.
He appeared in just 45 of the Clippers' 82 games last season. Health is not listed as a concern entering this season, but a team built around his shot creation needs him on the schedule far more often than last year's total.
Ingram's absence starts the season on his plate.
With Brandon Ingram sidelined to open the year, Garland's scoring and passing carry more weight before the roster's other options are settled. In the preseason loss at Toronto on October 10, he managed 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting with four assists in 20 minutes, a quieter outing than last season's averages.
His new contract bets on last season's level continuing.
Garland earns $42.2 million this season and $44.9 million next, a deal that assumes he repeats or exceeds last season's 18.8 points and 6.7 assists per game. At that price, an inconsistent year costs more than it did before the extension.
How many games did Darius Garland play last season?
He played 45 of the Clippers' 82 games in 2025-26, averaging 18.8 points and 6.7 assists in that time.
What is Darius Garland's contract with the Clippers?
Garland is set to earn $42.2 million in 2026-27 and $44.9 million in 2027-28.
