Darius Garland's road to recovery is going off without a hitch. The Cleveland Cavaliers point guard delivered a confident statement about recent developments surrounding the road back to full health.
Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com got to catch up with Garland at his celebrity softball game on Saturday. The Cavaliers insider helped the franchise point guard sound off on words that everyone in Cleveland will certainly enjoy hearing.
"I feel great," Garland stated. "The recovery process is going well. But I’m here for my foundation. I’m here to spread some positivity around the city of Cleveland and trying to have a good time. I always loved baseball, so I tried to make it a little bit competitive and kind of friendly as well."
While it is natural of Garland to want to put the focus of the day on his event, even the quick pivot away from the troublesome toe can be viewed as a positive. The Cavaliers will hope their talented offensive guard is more than ready for the upcoming campaign, given its importance.
Darius Garland's health is crucial to Cavaliers' championship hopes
Garland played the most regular season games of his career in 2024-25. It was the first time the Cavaliers guard broke the 70-game barrier, finishing with 75 games played.
Garland had a strong season, averaging 20.6 points, 6.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from beyond the arc. The former lottery pick was rewarded with the second All-Star selection of his career for his troubles.
However, his toe nagged him throughout the back end of the season, extending into the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Garland missed pivotal contests against the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers as a result. The Cavaliers paid the price with a second-round loss to the Pacers in the process.
It is clear that for Cleveland to hit the highs that many are projecting onto them for the 2025-26 season, Garland needs to be available. His health has been a sizeable question mark throughout his playing days.
Garland has spent six seasons in the NBA. Three of those campaigns featured over 65 appearances in the regular season. The other three saw him play less than 60 games overall in each of them.
The Cavaliers need Garland to be the engine that leads their offense in 2025-26. The lives of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen get made abundantly easier when the opportunity to capitalize off the playmaking provided by the two-time All-Star is present.