Cavaliers' Darius Garland Undergoes Surgery on Left Big Toe Injury

Cavaliers' Darius Garland Undergoes Surgery on Left Big Toe Injury

INDEPENDENCE — Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland underwent surgery on Monday to address a lingering left big toe injury that hampered him during the team’s playoff run. The procedure took place at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and was performed by Dr. Nicholas Strasser, in consultation with team physician Dr. James Rosneck and Dr. Bob Anderson.

Garland, an All-Star this season, experienced discomfort that limited his effectiveness on the court towards the end of the regular season and throughout the playoffs. He missed critical games, including the final two games of the regular season and four playoff games, which strained the Cavaliers’ performance. After Cleveland's elimination from the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers, Garland expressed his frustration, stating, "Definitely wasn’t myself. It was pretty uncomfortable but trying to do everything to win the game. It was frustrating because I wasn’t 100 percent."

In the wake of this surgery, Garland is projected to be sidelined for 4 to 5 months, undergoing a structured rehabilitation program before he can resume basketball activities, ideally by the start of training camp in October. However, there is a possibility that the injury might delay his return to the court for the start of the 2025-26 NBA season.

During the regular season, Garland played a vital role in leading the Cavaliers to an impressive 64-18 record, helping them secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference. He averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists per game, a performance that earned him a second All-Star selection. Unfortunately, his injury was first diagnosed on March 23 during a game against the Utah Jazz, though he managed to only miss two regular-season games initially. Yet, as the pressure of the playoffs escalated, the injury worsened, leading him to miss vital games in both the first and second rounds against the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers respectively.

Despite Garland's determination to contribute, his performance was clearly affected; he averaged 14 points and four assists in the later playoff series. A significant point about Garland's season is that he was one of just two players in the league to average at least 20 points, five assists, and achieve a 40% shooting percentage from three-point range, along with Denver Nuggets' star Nikola Jokic. His remarkable ability from beyond the arc was evidenced by 212 three-pointers made this season, ranking third in Cavaliers’ franchise history.

The 25-year-old has spent his entire six-year NBA career with the Cavaliers since being picked fifth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. Despite trade rumors circulating during the offseason, this injury is likely to keep him with the Cavaliers next year, allowing the team to utilize his skills as they aim to build on this season's success.