Ahead of an eventual Saturday win over the Chicago Bulls, reigning Coach of the Year Kenny Atkinson has supplied a critical progress report on a $62.3 million Cleveland Cavaliers swingman.
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Over the summer, small forward Max Strus went under the knife to address a Jones Fracture (fifth metatarsal) in his left foot. Strus was in a walking boot through late September. While he has yet to make his 2025-26 season debut, but he has taken another critical next step in his recovery of late.
“He’s on the court shooting, so that’s good,” Atkinson revealed, per Ethan Sands of Cleveland.com. “Still no contact yet, but he is doing on court work, progressing well. No setbacks.”
Cavaliers rounding into form, with or without Strus
Strus missed 32 games with Cleveland last year, but proved to be a useful contributor in his 50 healthy contests (37 starts) for the 64-win squad. Strus notched averages of 9.4 points on.442/.386/.824 shooting splits, 4.3 boards, 3.2 dimes, and 0.5 swipes per.
Cleveland has been rounding into form even without the 29-year-old Strus. In a 128-122 victory Saturday, the Cavaliers rallied from a 19-point deficit to cool down a red-hot Chicago club.
Two-time All-Star Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland has been sidelined for eight of the team's 10 games. Six-time All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell believes that both Strus and Garland have managed to contribute this season, even without having participated on the court for much of it.
“[Darius Garland] and Max have done a very good job of — you can be hurt sometimes and kind of be detached from the group, [they’ve] been there every day," Donovan Mitchell said of the Strus and Garland’s involvement with the team even when injured. “One of the first ones to show up to the gym, continue to get his work in.”
Mitchell and fill-in guard Jaylon Tyson powered Cleveland in the fourth frame against the Bulls. Tyson notched 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 shooting from the charity stripe, two rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block, while Mitchell logged 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor and 1-of-1 shooting from the free throw line, plus two boards.
All told, Mitchell wrapped up the night with 29 points on 10-of-24 shooting from the field (5-of-12 from distance) and 4-of-4 shooting from the foul line, six rebounds, six assists and two steals.
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