There is still no clear timetable for when Darius Garland will return to action. The Los Angeles Clippers’ front office provided an update on his health, offering a clearer picture of why his comeback is not imminent.
Clippers President Provides Update on Darius Garland
Garland missed the first seven games of the 2025-26 season while recovering from left big toe surgery that dated back to last year’s postseason run. Then, on Jan. 14, he suffered a right big toe sprain and has not suited up since.
Surprisingly, the injury keeping him sidelined is not the most recent one, according to Clippers president Lawrence Frank. He said Garland’s right toe has already recovered, while his left toe is still sore and has yet to fully heal.
Frank also said the front office is not rushing the process and will take all necessary steps in Garland’s recovery.
Clippers guard Darius Garland is “basically recovered” from the right toe sprain suffered last month, says Lawrence Frank.
Garland is still recovering from left toe surgery, where there is soreness, Frank adds.
“We’re going to manage this correctly. We’re not going to skip any…
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 9, 2026
The expectation is that Garland will become the Clippers’ starting point guard once he is fully healthy, a role he has already shown he can handle as the facilitator of a high‑powered Cleveland Cavaliers offense. He was acquired in exchange for James Harden, who helped drive the Clippers’ midseason turnaround and continues to produce at an All‑Star level despite his age.
There is no telling what the Clippers’ ceiling will be with Garland running the offense, but his production in Cleveland offers optimism. He has been named an All-Star twice (2022 and 2025) and is still only 26 years old.
Despite not being fully recovered from his left toe injury, Garland posted respectable numbers for the Cavaliers before suffering the right toe sprain. In 26 games, he averaged 18.0 points while shooting 45.1 percent from the field. He also kept teammates involved, averaging 6.9 assists per game.
While there is excitement about how his skill set will translate in a new system, there is no reason to rush his return, given his contract situation. Garland is in the third year of a five-year extension signed in 2022 worth $197,230,450.
He will not become a free agent until after the 2027-28 season. Even with limited action this year, he would still have two full seasons to make an impact with his new team.
