As we all know, at just 26, Darius Garland is expected to be a true leader for the LA Clippers. This means he won't just have to be a star on the court; behind the scenes, Garland must be vocal, mentor the young guys, and ultimately take more initiative than he ever has in his career for the Clippers to be in a position to succeed in the stacked Western Conference. In the process, he'll have help, and one source will be Max Strus, who is a former teammate during their recently concluded stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Based on what we learned from media day, the veteran sharpshooter has already gotten started. Per Farbod Esnaashari, Garland said, "Strus started the trend of getting players in early to get shots up." This is a small gesture, but in the grand scheme of things, it shows how Strus can help the franchise star off the court.
Darius Garland says you can see the competitive spirit very early with the Clippers this offseason. Max Strus started the trend of getting players in early to get shots up.
— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) September 28, 2026
Garland has made gestures to show he's a true veteran leader, and Max Strus has helped
Although he's going into his eighth NBA season, Darius Garland has never had to be the vocal leader in a locker room. On the Cleveland Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell handled that role, along with a surplus of seasoned veterans. That is why, on the LA Clippers, Max Strus, as a familiar second voice, helps beyond imagination.
Strus already know how Garland operates, meaning he can provide constructive criticism, and do things such as starting up an early-gym trend. This is a great way to build chemistry, speed up the development of the team's youth, and ultimately put in extra work.
But Garland's new leadership role hasn't appeared to stop because of Strus. In fact, it looks more like they're balancing each other's leadership styles. When Keaton Wagler, the recently drafted fifth overall pick, was asked about his relationship with the star guard, the rookie's face lit up, and he seemed excited. He said they were getting along and spending time together, even saying that Garland “invited me out to go to football games with him.”
Keaton Wagler on his relationship with Darius Garland: "Darius has been really good to me. Great teammate, great person. He's invited me out to go to football games with him."
— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) September 28, 2026
At the end of the day, the efforts being put in collectively by Strus and Garland are the ultimate green flag, and just what the fans want to see. Garland mentioned during his portion of the team's media day that the vibes are phenomenal, and when you take everything into account, it's easy to see why.
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