Cavs point guard sounds off on lack of national recognition despite ...

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs are confused or lost for answers.

They have the best record in the NBA (31-4). Yet, they don’t get the respect that larger market teams do from national media.

The league’s top team isn’t confused about their status; they’re perplexed by the lack of recognition that comes with it.

Garland’s frustration boiled over after the Cavs secured a 115-105 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.

“I wish I had an answer to that because I think that we deserve to have recognition for being the best team in the league,” Garland, the Cavs’ soft-spoken point guard, said sternly. “Especially with the group that we have, the brand of basketball that we play. I think it’s really exciting. I think it’s fun.

“I think it’s actual great basketball, and it should be shown a lot more. It should be just really out there, in my opinion. But I guess [we’re] a small market. That’s the only thing I can really think of, to be honest with you.”

As Garland gave his answer, it was quickly echoed by his teammates in the locker room, clearly a topic that has been circulating behind the scenes.

The conversation could even be considered league-wide as other small-market teams look to the Cavs to see if they can change the narrative.

Can Cleveland, with its record-shattering pace, break through the bias that favors big-market franchises?

So far, the national media has proven that isn’t the case. Yet.

The latest slight came from NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, who hedged his praise after a TNT doubleheader last week.

“If they play the Cavs in a [playoff] series, I’m gonna take the 76ers,” Barkley stated.

The 76ers (14-19) have struggled to keep their stars on the court, as Joel Embiid and Paul George have had their activity limited in back-to-backs this entire season.

This was the same night the Cavs were starting to make headway with Barkley, as he began the TNT show by acknowledging their current surge, “I have to admit I might have been wrong about the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cleveland Cavaliers are starting to make me a believer. We got to start giving the Cavaliers their props, man.”

It should be noted, Philadelphia was then beaten by 34 points on national television — a game against the Warriors in which their trio of Embiid, George and Tyrese Maxey all played.

For the Cavs, these moments are becoming all too familiar. While they keep winning, the recognition remains elusive.

If the Cavs are overlooked as a team, Garland is emblematic of their underappreciation.

In Sunday’s showdown against LaMelo Ball, a player whose social media presence has evolved since his Chino Hills freshman days, earning him a reputation as the NBA’s fun, flashy playmaker with deep threes and unforgettable postgame interviews, the Cavs had a player who not only kept pace but outshone him.

“I thought it added a little intrigue to the game. It is an entertainment league too, so I think the fans got a kick out of it,” Atkinson said of the matchup between Garland and Ball.

The first fan return for Eastern Conference guards left Garland off the list entirely, out of the top 10, while LaMelo Ball sat atop the rankings — even ahead of Garland’s five-time All-Star teammate, Donovan Mitchell.

But in their head-to-head showdown, the Cavs gave Garland the stage to remind everyone where he stands when it’s about skill, not popularity.

“It’s a goal of mine. I want to be an All-Star,” Garland said of showcasing his talents and aspirations. “I want to get back to that level of play that I’ve been at and I’m healthy this season. I plan on being in San Francisco.”

The duel between the two point guards crackled with intensity, with Garland showing why he thrives in isolation and head-to-head moments. His craftiness and pace gave him the upper hand — until Charlotte, recognizing the inevitable — making his All-Star case for him — sent a double-team to stifle the one-on-one battle.

The move ended the fireworks, but it didn’t stifle Garland. Instead, it brought out his quintessential point guard instincts.

Drawing defenders like a magnet, Garland pivoted seamlessly into creating for his teammates, orchestrating the offense with hockey assists, quick-swing passes, and his signature unselfish play. While the Hornets tried to stop the show, Garland simply shifted the narrative, proving he could dominate in more ways than one.

The Cavs fans at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse continue to erupt and show love when in attendance, but the All-Star voting polls indicated differently.

“He’s an All-Star. Y’all vote for my man, DG, man,” Mitchell said pleading with the Cleveland faithful during Garland’s postgame interview with FanDuel Sports’ Serena Winters. “Come on. You saw what he did tonight man. What are we doing?”

Even as voting progresses, the coaches of the NBA will have the final say in the reserves of the 2025 All-Star game in San Francisco.

The question remains: When will the league at large take notice? Wednesday might be the answer.

The Cavs host the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are currently riding a 15-game winning streak, in a matchup that pits the league’s top offense against the top-ranked defense.

The game was elevated by the NBA onto ESPN. With the world watching, the Cavs have a chance to shift any lingering doubt about their standing on Wednesday if they pull out the victory.