After a disappointing finish to the 2024-25 season, the Cleveland Cavaliers will have their eyes set on improving for the 2025-26 campaign.
Cleveland was able to finish as the one-seed in the East last year. Still, injuries mixed with questionable play resulted in them being eliminated in the Eastern Conference Semifinals by the Indiana Pacers.
One of the players hit with a frustrating injury was guard Darius Garland. The 25-year-old dealt with a lingering toe issue that required offseason surgery. As he recovers, his status for the start of the 2025-26 season remains uncertain.
Darius Garland still recovering from toe surgery, could miss start of regular season
After playing in 75 games during the 2024-25 regular season, averaging 20.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 47.2% from the field and 40.1% from three, Garland was scratched from four of the Cavs’ nine games during the postseason with his toe injury.
After being eliminated by the Indiana Pacers, he underwent surgery to repair the toe in June. With just over two weeks before the start of the regular season, Garland was seen doing light individual workouts, Chris Fedor of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.
#Cavs Darius Garland conducted a light, individual workout at the end of shootaround today (with a hilarious Jarrett Allen cameo) pic.twitter.com/KI1YHkD93M
— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) October 7, 2025
With the start of the regular season creeping up, it appears that Garland’s recovery process is going slowly. This can affect his status for the start of the regular season, possibly resulting in him missing games.
If Garland is unable to return for Cleveland’s season opener against the New York Knicks, first-year Cavalier Lonzo Ball would be in line to start at the point guard position.
