Report: Cavaliers’ Darius Garland To Miss Start Of Next Season

According to Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland will miss the start of next season. 

Garland had surgery Monday to repair the left big toe injury that troubled him during the 2025 playoffs and is expected to miss four to five months.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland underwent successful surgery today to repair his great toe injury,” the Cavaliers said in a statement. “The procedure was performed by Dr. Nicholas Strasser at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in consultation with Cavaliers team doctor, Dr. James Rosneck (Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine), and Dr. Bob Anderson (OrthoCarolina).

“His status will be updated as appropriate, following a progression of treatment and rehabilitation in approximately 4-5 months. Garland is expected to make a full recovery and resume basketball activities by the start of training camp.”

A two-time All-Star, Garland appeared in 75 games for the Cavaliers this season. He averaged 20.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists while shooting 47.2% from the field, 40.1% from beyond the arc and 87.8% from the free-throw line. 

Cleveland had the top record in the East this year but lost to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals in five games. 

Garland will make $39,446,090 next season. He didn’t play well against the Pacers in the conference semifinals, averaging just 14.0 points while shooting 34.2% from the field and 16.7% from 3. 

The Cavaliers drafted Garland with the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The Vanderbilt product has career averages of 18.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists. 

Cleveland hasn’t gotten past the second round of the playoffs since acquiring Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz in 2022. Some trades may need to happen this offseason to change that. 

Many people in NBA circles don’t believe Cleveland can win it all with Garland and Mitchell in the same backcourt since both players are small.

Garland is listed at 6-1, 192 pounds, while Mitchell is listed at 6-3, 215 pounds.