One of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ biggest stars will spend the offseason rehabbing after toe surgery. Darius Garland will miss 4-5 months after undergoing “great toe surgery” on Monday, the team announced.
The Cavaliers expect Garland to “make a full recovery and resume basketball activities by the start of training camp.” While he’s expected to take part in activities during camp, there’s a chance the injury keeps him off the court at the start of the 2025-26 NBA season, per Shams Charania.
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Garland, 25, averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists for the Cavaliers this season. That performance earned Garland his second All-Star nod.
Garland played a key role in the Cavaliers going 64-18 and earning the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. As the regular season came to a close, Garland dealt with the injury, which was revealed following the team’s March 23 game in Utah. Garland was able to manage the injury down the stretch, but re-aggravated it during the playoffs. After playing in the first two games of the postseason, Garland missed Games 3 and 4 against the Miami Heat due to the injury.
The Cavaliers advanced in four games, and played the Indiana Pacers in the second round. Garland missed the first two games of that series — which Cleveland lost — before returning for Game 3.
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Garland played in the final three games of the series. His presence couldn’t lift the Cavaliers, however, who fell to the Pacers in five games. Garland averaged 14 points and four assists in the series.
Garland has spent his entire six-year NBA career with the Cavaliers after the team made him the No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He’s averaged 18.9 points and 6.7 assists over his career.
Garland was reportedly a candidate to be traded in the offseason, but the injury likely ensures he’ll remain with the Cavaliers next year.
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