Cavaliers' Darius Garland Out for Season Start After Toe Surgery

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland underwent toe surgery in June and is expected to miss the start of the 2025-26 NBA season as he continues his recovery. Head coach Kenny Atkinson emphasized there will be no rush in Garland's rehabilitation, stating the decision on his return will be left to Garland and the medical staff, and he does not expect him to be ready for training camp. Despite Garland's positive attitude about his recovery, he has remained vague about his exact timeline for return, causing some uncertainty among fans and the team. The Cavaliers, who finished as the top seed in the Eastern Conference last season but fell short in the playoffs partly due to Garland's injury, have prepared contingency plans with other players like Lonzo Ball and Donovan Mitchell stepping up in his absence. Atkinson views this period as an opportunity to explore different team dynamics and strategies to better cope with Garland's unavailability. The team remains optimistic about their title prospects despite the setback, relying on their depth and Garland's eventual full recovery.