CLEVELAND — Max Strus was the last Cleveland Cavaliers player in uniform after the game was long over. Maybe that was just a coincidence, but it didn’t feel like it. This was a man who was glad to be back playing basketball after not doing so in an NBA game since May 11.
Once Strus finally got his jersey off, he took questions from the media — an activity he’s known for not always outwardly enjoying — but this time was different. After making it through five minutes of answering questions, he finally broke down.
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“I worked my ass off,” Struss said.
Then, he had to take a second to collect his thoughts and regain his voice that had started to waver.
“It was a long road, but I only know one way to work, and that’s as hard as possible. I did that every single day. … I’m just happy to be playing.”
It didn’t take Strus long to make his presence felt on the court. After receiving a raucous ovation after entering the game for the first time this season, he knocked down a contested three off a James Harden feed on his first offensive possession in almost a year. Then, he did the same thing on the next trip down the court, only this time from a Dennis Schroder dish.
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The first triple got the crowd on their feet. The second sent them into a frenzy.
Strus wasn’t just back, he was better than ever.
“It was a pretty amazing performance after seven months of not playing in an NBA game,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said afterward. “Maybe the best I’ve seen.”
Strus certainly did have an amazing performance. He went on to nail his first four threes before finishing the night going 6-7 from beyond the arc in his 24-point performance in 20 minutes.
“That’s the Max Strus we know,” Donovan Mitchell said afterward. “The shooting was there, but it was the little things [that were impressive].”
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Strus looked like he hadn’t missed a beat in Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks. He was able to impact the game in all the little ways he’s continually done since coming to Cleveland. He was effective at attacking closeouts off the dribble, getting teammates involved as a secondary playmaker, and making an impact on the glass. All of which are things the Cavs have desperately missed in his absence.
The journey back to the court has been more grueling than expected. “It wasn’t meant to be this long, but I can’t control the way my body heals.”
The initial estimates after the injury in August had him returning around Christmas, but it took three months longer than expected. Strus mentioned that he could’ve just shut it down for the entire season. That would’ve been an easier option, but he isn’t exactly known for taking the easy way out when presented with that choice.
“He’s put in so much time and effort [into his recovery],” Mitchell said. “It’s easy for a guy to get discouraged, but he’s not the type to give up.”
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Strus credits his family with getting him through this process. This ordeal has also led him to seek a different outlook. One focused more on being positive and grateful for everything that he has.
Life has a way of testing us in uncomfortable and unexpected ways. These last seven months have been incredibly difficult for Strus, but he’s come out on the other side with a better grasp of who he is.
“You learn a lot about yourself when something is taken away from you,” Strus said. “I think I understand how important this is and how much it does mean to me that I want to be back. I want to make an impact. I want to help this team win. I do love basketball. I do love doing it with a good group of guys.
“I’m just happy to be back.”
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