.jpg)
1 hour ago
5
After suffering a Jones fracture in his left foot during the 2025 offseason, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus has been recovering. He has been waiting for a long time, which naturally led to some frustration.
On Sunday, he finally returned to the active roster as he played 23 minutes, while scoring 24 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. It was a magical return, but it was spoiled by the Dallas Mavericks winning 130-120.
Strus' return to the Cavaliers was bittersweet
Strus has been a much-needed player for the Cavs this season. They have missed his three-point shooting, as the Cavs lack that with the current roster.
Of course, the offense is good with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. However, they need some more complementary players alongside that backcourt and the big man duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
MORE: Max Strus' return was impressive despite the team's struggles
Strus has proven over the years that he is a great player to have in any rotation. Now that he is active, he will be a crucial piece for the Cavaliers in their quest to succeed in the postseason.
Even though they lost, it was an emotional night for Strus. It has been a rough season for him, but now, he is raring to go.
"I worked my ass off. I only know one way to work, and that’s to push myself to the max. It made me realize I do love playing basketball. I love doing it with a good group of guys. I’m just happy to be playing," Strus said after the game.
Now that he is back, the Cavaliers have a mostly healthy team. Of course, there are still some injuries here and there, but the Cavs could be the team that lives up to the pre-season expectations.
More NBA news:
- James Harden's achievement that only eight other players did
- James Harden loves what he saw from Jayson Tatum's return
- LeBron James might not be the only former Cavs player to return soon
- Harden and Mitchell fit well alongside each other in the backcourt
- James Harden admits that his fractured thumb is not a big issue for him
English (US)