Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland is in a critical position for the Clippers as one of the most significant leaders on the team. After an offseason of rebuilding and roster upheaval, Garland, who is only in his first full season as a Clipper, has a responsibility on his shoulders to help set the tempo for the Clippers.

Part of that is how he dictates the play on the court, but another huge part of that is how he dictates the mood and emotions within the locker room and considering that the Clippers have struggled to start the season, that's been a more difficult task. 

But the Clippers at least received somewhat of a respite from those struggles after taking down the New Orleans Pelicans 139-123 in a performance that fully showcased the young talent that the team has accumulated across the board.

Baba Miller, Kobe Sanders, Gradey Dick and Keaton Wagler all had huge performances coming off the bench and that list of players alone represents an inside look at what the future of the Clippers could look like. 

Ahead of them all was Garland, who scored a game-leading 24 points on6-11 shooting while adding 10 assists to help the Clippers get over the hump and take their second win of the season.

The Clippers at this point are dependent on Garland to dictate the flow of the game as so long as he's on, Los Angeles has a much better chance at getting a win with the rest of the roster following suit.

But as critical as Garland's role on the court is, he also showed his leadership qualities when interviewed after the game. 

When Garland was asked how he balanced finding joy on the court with making winning plays, he said that the joy he derives from the games comes primarily from seeing the young players around him thrive.

"Making the right plays, seeing my teammates hope. It was a lot of fun out there seeing Kobe [Sanders] get going, Baba [Miller] having a great spurt," Garland said (via The Sporting Tribune). "It was a great all-around team effort."

Being the leader of a team that's in the midst of a rebuild is a unique position for any player to be in and Garland has taken his role in stride as he never misses a chance to build up his young teammates who are finding their way in the game.

That kind of encouragement and leadership is crucial for developing the growing pool of young talent that the Clippers have and while Garland is getting it done on the court as well, his traits as an encouraging leader show just how valuable he is to the grand scheme of the Clippers' future.