Max Strus’s 2025-26 season was definitely not the plan either the Cleveland Cavaliers or Strus envisioned. However, the Cavaliers needed Strus for the postseason, and from that perspective, he was up to the task.
Regular Season Stats
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Late last August, it was announced by the Cavaliers that Strus underwent surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot. It was initially estimated he would be sidelined for three to four months. Well, one setback after another, it became a real concern whether Strus would even be able to suit up for the Cavaliers at all this past season. Then, it was announced with 12 games left in the regular season that Strus would be able to get some minutes under his belt before the postseason.
Strus did his best to make up for lost time in his return. Against Dallas, Strus was running around like a man on fire. His lack of conscience resulted in a 7-9 shooting night (6-7 from three), ending with 24 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes.
While it wasn’t like the Cavaliers were a Strus away from being a title team, he is one of the more adaptable players on the roster. Strus is someone who isn’t just a one-dimensional offensive player, which plagues more of the team’s role players. His ability to operate as a secondary ball handler, get defenders to bite on pull-ups, and try on defense are little things that add to his well-rounded game.
Strus, in his limited 12 games in the regular season, scored in double digits six times. Not too shabby for someone who missed the first 85% of the season. It felt like Strus was able to fast-track his ramp-up period in time for the Cavaliers to make a serious playoff push.
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In the postseason, Strus had pivotal performances as the Cavaliers made their run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Strus couldn’t find a rhythm against the Knicks, but neither could anyone on the team. However, in the first two rounds, Strus was tasked, along with Dean Wade, with guarding the bigger-bodied ball handlers like Scottie Barnes and Cade Cunningham, and performed admirably.
Strus is far from an elite defender; however, he did a great job of hustling enough to stay on their hips and playing the role of on-ball pest. Offensively, Strus provided enough with his movement shooting and as a secondary ballhandler.
When you take the one-thousand-foot view of Strus’s season, it is incredible that a guy who could not play for 70 games to start the season was able to step into 25+ minute playoff games for a month and a half. Strus has always been an emotional leader of the Cavaliers. He is someone who has an edge that the team can respond to. This year showed just how valuable he is.
Grade: A-
