CLEVELAND, Ohio — The latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast featuring cleveland.com Cavs beat reporter Chris Fedor and host Ethan Sands delivered a compelling deep dive into Darius Garland’s upcoming recovery journey – one that both hosts agree will test the guard’s mental fortitude as much as his physical rehabilitation.
Garland, who will be sidelined until at least October following surgery, faces a critical juncture in his career.
This marks his second significant injury recovery in consecutive seasons, following last year’s fractured jaw. According to Sands, how Garland responds mentally could determine whether he transforms into the championship-caliber player Cleveland needs.
“This \[recovery\] is going to be more important because of Darius Garland’s movements, how he plays on the offensive end, his stop start motions. All these things are going to be extremely important to Darius Garland and how he returns,” Sands emphasized, highlighting how Garland’s playing style makes this recovery particularly challenging.
Throughout the podcast, the conversation repeatedly returned to the mental aspects of Garland’s development.
Sands referenced coach Kenny Atkinson’s previous comments about Garland’s maturation process, noting the significance of mental growth to complement physical development.
“This goes back to the maturity factor that Kenny Atkinson referenced in the latter half of the regular season and making sure that Darius understood that now that he had put the work in with his body, it was time to put the work in with his mind,” Sands noted. “I think when we talk about all of the mental toughness throughout the entire summer, there may not be a player that the Cavs need to grow in that area more than Darius Garland.”
The podcast hosts didn’t shy away from discussing the critiques of Garland’s game, particularly on the defensive end.
Fedor presented a candid assessment of Garland’s impact, noting that throughout his six NBA seasons, the Cavs have consistently been a better defensive team with him off the floor. This reality creates significant pressure for Garland to excel offensively to offset his defensive limitations.
Yet both hosts acknowledged Atkinson’s faith in Garland’s potential for growth.
Sands emphasized the [coach’s comparisons between Garland and Stephen Curry’s development trajectory](https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2025/01/if-the-nba-is-looking-for-a-star-to-join-the-faces-of-its-next-generation-why-not-darius-garland.html), particularly regarding defensive improvement.
The podcast conversation suggested that Atkinson’s coaching philosophy could be pivotal in helping Garland overcome his defensive shortcomings.
“When we talk about all of the mental toughness throughout the entire summer, there may not be a player that the Cavs need to grow in that area more than Darius Garland,” Sands noted, underscoring the significance of the guard’s mental development.
The timing of Garland’s injury creates additional complexity.
While recovering during the offseason provides time without missing games, it also means he’ll be reintegrating just as training camp begins – a critical period for team development under Atkinson’s system.
This compressed timeline adds another layer of mental challenge for Garland.
The podcast conversation painted a clear picture: Garland’s recovery represents more than just a return to physical health. It’s an opportunity for mental growth that could define his career trajectory and significantly impact the Cavaliers’ championship aspirations.
For Cleveland fans, the podcast offers valuable context about what to watch for when Garland returns. Beyond his scoring or assists, his mental approach – how he handles adversity, his defensive engagement, and his overall maturity – may ultimately determine whether he becomes the championship-caliber guard the Cavs need to reach their full potential.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
_Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from the Cleveland Wine and Gold Talk Podcast by cleveland.com. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions._