Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland may not be ready for training camp as he continues recovering from offseason toe surgery. Head coach Kenny Atkinson suggested the team will take a cautious approach with Garland’s return.
In an interview with Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, Atkinson said the decision will be left to Garland and the team’s medical staff. “I don’t expect him to,” Atkinson said when asked about Garland’s training camp availability, via HoopsHype. “We’re not going to push it. We’re not going to rush it.”
Garland underwent surgery on June 9 to repair a lingering injury to his left big toe that impacted his performance during the 2025 NBA Playoffs. The Cavaliers were eliminated in the second round for the second consecutive year by the Indiana Pacers.
At the time of the procedure, the recovery timeline was estimated at four to five months, which initially put Garland on track for a potential return by the start of camp this fall.
Despite the injury, the 25-year-old guard delivered a standout 2024–25 regular season. He averaged 20.6 points, 6.7 assists, and shot 40.1% from three-point range over 75 games.
Garland’s strong campaign helped Cleveland finish with a 64–18 record—the best in the Eastern Conference and the second-best mark in franchise history.
He also earned his second career All-Star nod and played a pivotal role in the Cavaliers’ backcourt alongside Donovan Mitchell.
However, Garland’s playoff performance was hampered by the toe injury, leading to reduced effectiveness in critical moments.
While Garland recently told Fedor that he “feels great” and that the recovery is “going well,” the team appears determined not to rush his timeline.
