The Cleveland Cavaliers are still waiting to see the first of Max Strus this season. He’s been sidelined all year with a Jones fracture in his left foot. Soon, hopefully, he’ll be able to finally make his season debut.
“What a struggle and arduous process,” said Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson. “But I think we’re all starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
The Cavs announced today that Strus is beginning on-court workouts that include team activities both with the Cavs and their G League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge.
“Recent imaging has shown progressive healing, and in consultation with Dr. David Porter and team physician Dr. James Rosneck, Strus has progressed to individual on-court workouts as part of a structured ramp-up program.”
There are fewer than 20 games to go in the 2025-26 NBA season. That means Strus will have limited time to ramp up, return to the floor, and catch his groove. It probably doesn’t help that the team has shuffled the deck in the past year since Strus played. The last time Strus was on the court for Cleveland, so were Darius Garland, De’Andre Hunter, Isaac Okoro, and Ty Jerome. Things change quickly.
Either way, getting back on the court is the primary objective. Everything else will come secondary. Strus is about as plug-and-play as they come, so I’m confident he can catch a flow with this rolling Cavs team.
“I saw a session the other day with him, and man, like, he’s coming,” said Atkinson. “No timeline or anything like that, but I can just say trending very positive.”
