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Cavaliers’ Darius Garland Undergoes Toe Surgery, Faces Four- to Five-Month Recovery

The surgery sidelines him until at least training camp, threatening his availability for opening night.

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Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates during the third quarter against the LA Clippers during the third quarter at Rocket Arena on March 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Clippers 127-122.
May 13, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) during the first quarter of game five of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images/File Photo

Overview

  • On June 9, 2025, Garland underwent surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to repair a chronic left great toe injury in a procedure led by Dr. Nicholas Strasser with consultation from Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. James Rosneck and OrthoCarolina’s Dr. Bob Anderson.
  • The Cavaliers project a four- to five-month rehabilitation, meaning Garland may not be cleared for training camp in October and could miss the start of the 2025-26 regular season.
  • Garland first sprained his left toe in late March and aggravated it during the first-round playoff series against Miami, causing him to miss six postseason games and play through pain in subsequent contests.
  • Despite averaging a career-high 20.6 points, 6.7 assists and 40.1 percent from three in 75 regular-season games, his production fell to 14.0 points per game on 34.2 percent shooting in the second round against Indiana.
  • His extended absence and recovery uncertainty have prompted the Cavaliers to evaluate guard depth and could influence ongoing trade considerations involving the two-time All-Star.