Although fans of the LA Clippers will always have love for James Harden, no matter what uniform he wears, after a rough outing, he made it a habit not to speak to the media. This became clockwork, and soon enough, the media could see it coming. Once traded, Darius Garland arrived and had a solid stretch of games. But poor performance was inevitable, and when it occurred, Garland followed the former MVP's footsteps, which is not something the fanbase wanted to see.
Darius Garland left before the Clippers locker room was open to reporters. He’s left the last two games without speaking.
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) April 3, 2026
In the last two losses, where Garland declined both times, he posted a total of 31 points, 12-34 shooting from the field, 4-16 from beyond the arc, and six turnovers.
To say the least, Garland did not play well and, overall, had the worst stretch of games since debuting with the Clippers.
However, as Kawhi Leonard has consistently done, simply showing your face speaks volumes about your character. Yet doing exactly what Harden would do is not a good look, especially since Garland just landed with the Clippers.
It would have been a much better sight if Darius Garland showed accountability
On specific occasions, particularly must-win games and during the playoffs, it sure would’ve been nice to hear from James Harden’s perspective. Fans of the LA Clippers did not get that, which suggested a lack of accountability, and the fact that he did not want to face the critics head-on, to a certain degree.
In the same breath, fans want to see a change in the starting backcourt from Darius Garland. He was doing great in terms of production, with countless mind-boggling nights, including the one where he recorded 41 points and 11 assists versus the Dallas Mavericks, which proved why the Clippers traded for him.
But the real test came after a series of games in which he did not meet the standard the coaching staff and fanbase expected of him, and Garland failed.
Garland could have made it clear to the media that his head is high, confidence is through the roof, and that he is excited about what is ahead. Instead, by saying nothing, he indirectly gave off a pessimistic impression that he’s down in the dumps.
This is not a good sign from a 26-year-old who is being considered a building block for the franchise's future.
So, of course, the fans have every right to feel a certain way, as Garland’s behavior has been reminiscent of Harden’s in the wrong way.