Darius Garland Injury Updates Provide Optimism for Finals-Hopeful Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are hoping to build on their incredible regular season from last year. Although they weren’t able to make the deep playoff run they were hoping for, they enter the 2025–26 season as the favorite to win the Eastern Conference.

One key component to their success will be the health of all their best players. Darius Garland, their starting point guard from last season, is recovering from offseason toe surgery. His ability to get onto the court sooner rather than later could greatly impact the Cavaliers’ start to the season.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson gave an update on Garland’s 5-on-5 scrimmaging from Tuesday morning. 

“It was live. It was very short,” Atkinson said. “Now let’s see what tomorrow looks like. What does the recovery look like? We know this is not an easy injury to come back from. It’s just not. You see what happens in the NFL with this injury. It’s not linear, usually, the return to performance, and we’re hoping it will be and he’ll progress…But I side on the side of being conservative and making sure. This is a good step today. A small step but a good step.”

While Garland doesn’t seem ready to start the season in the lineup, he is progressing well. After toe surgery, that is the best the Cavaliers can hope for.

Luckily for the Cavaliers, Garland is more of a luxury than an essential piece. They fared well when he missed time last season and the season before that. While they would obviously love to have him healthy to start the season, what is more important is that he is healthy entering what the Cavs are hoping to be a long playoff run.