Table of Contents
Cleveland, June 9: The decision came quietly but with the weight of the season behind it. Darius Garland, Cleveland’s electric point guard and emotional compass, underwent surgery Monday to repair a nagging injury in his left big toe — an issue that had clearly taken a toll as the Cavaliers limped through the playoffs.
A Pain That Wasn’t Just Physical
For fans watching from afar, Garland’s sudden drop in aggression during the postseason was jarring. For those in the locker room, it made painful sense. The 24-year-old had tried to push through a worsening condition, missing a pair of late-season games before aggravating it early in the playoff series against Miami. He returned later in the Indiana matchup, but something was off. His burst was gone. His sharpness — usually his greatest weapon — dulled.
One teammate, who asked not to be named, described it plainly: “You could see it in the way he moved. He just wasn’t comfortable. Still tried to lead, still tried to show up. But you could tell.”
The Details: Who, What, Where
The operation was performed by Dr. Nicholas Strasser at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, with input from Dr. James Rosneck (Cleveland Clinic) and the respected Dr. Bob Anderson from OrthoCarolina. The Cavs, through an official release, said they anticipate Garland will make a full recovery in time for training camp — but privately, there’s acknowledgment he may miss the early stages of the 2025–26 season.
According to a report from ESPN, the expected recovery time is somewhere between four to five months. That window cuts it close.
A Breakout Year, Cut Short
Lost in the playoff disappointment is the fact that Garland had one of his finest seasons as a pro. He averaged over 20 points and 6 assists per game, shot better than 40% from three, and racked up 212 made triples — the third-highest single-season mark in Cavs history. Only J.R. Smith and Jalen Brunson have made more in a year.
What made Garland’s performance even more impressive was the way he adapted his game. With Donovan Mitchell taking a lion’s share of possessions, Garland found ways to remain impactful, spacing the floor, becoming more efficient, and handling the offense in spurts rather than dominating the ball.
Only Nikola Jokic, this year’s MVP, matched Garland in that rare statistical trio: 20+ points, 5+ assists, and 40% from deep. That’s not just good company — that’s elite territory.
Fans Divided, But Loyalty Won Out
Not everyone understood why Garland stayed out for much of the postseason. The noise — particularly from national talking heads — got loud. Stephen A. Smith went viral for insisting Garland “pad that toe” and get back out there.
But on platforms like Reddit, fan sentiment largely swayed toward empathy. “Big toe injuries are brutal,” one user wrote. “You lose all your leverage. People calling him soft have never tried running full speed with that kind of pain.”
Inside the team, there was no doubt. Players, coaches, staff — they all backed Garland’s decision. Even when he wasn’t on the court, he was in team huddles, offering pointers, keeping morale up.
“He never detached,” said one Cavs assistant. “He was still our guy.”
Implications for the Offseason
With Garland’s timeline now clear, Cleveland’s front office has decisions to make. The team has enough depth to weather a short-term absence, but a longer delay might force their hand in the market. There’s also the looming issue of Donovan Mitchell’s future — with one year left on his deal, the franchise may feel the pressure to either lock him in or build around what they have.
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff will need to recalibrate training camp sessions, giving more responsibility to backups like Craig Porter Jr. or experimenting with a heavier playmaking load on Mitchell.
No Rush — Just the Right Return
But here’s the thing about Garland: he’s worth the wait. The Cavs know it. The city knows it. There’s no value in rushing him back for a handful of October games. Not when he’s the pulse of their future.
If there’s a silver lining here, it’s this — the surgery wasn’t about patching something up. It was about fixing it completely. Cleveland didn’t gamble. Garland didn’t push through to the point of no return. They made the smart call, together.
Come December, or maybe even January, expect to see him glide up the floor again — fluid, balanced, and finally free from the pain that clouded the end of a brilliant season.
New Jersey Times Is Your Source: The Latest In Politics, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Breaking News, And Other News. Please Follow Us On Facebook, Instagram, And Twitter To Receive Instantaneous Updates. Also Do Checkout Our Telegram Channel @Njtdotcom For Latest Updates.
