The Cleveland Cavaliers are still waiting for Max Strus to make this 2025-26 season debut. With just 27 games left on the schedule, the Cavs are simply hoping he’ll be back on the court before the playoffs begin in April.
“Listen, getting Max back at any time before the playoffs would be a huge bonus,” said Atkinson. “He missed a ton of time last year with the ankle, and for a guy with that much experience… Of course you’d [still] like to have a little runway where he gets his rhythm, but as long as we have him for the playoff run, I think that’s a win for us.”
Strus suffered a Jones fracture in his foot in late August. His original timeline had him out for 3-4 months, but an update in January gave Strus another month before re-evaluation. We’re now in late February, and Strus is reportedly still not taking contact in practice. Though Atkinson insists that Strus is trending in the right direction and expects him to play before the regular season is over.
“Yes,” Atkinson replied when asked if he anticipated Strus playing this season. “Looking at his on-court work, it’s trending much more positive. But, still a ways to go.”
This is the second season in a row that Strus missed the beginning of the year with a foot injury. Last season, he was held out until December with an ankle injury. Once he returned, Strus had no trouble finding his groove and contributing to a successful regular season.
Whether or not Strus has enough time to ramp up before the playoffs begin remains to be seen. One thing’s for certain, he’s the type of plug-and-play athlete who can make this short runway work. Strus is a competitor through and through. As Atkinson says, getting him back at any point this season should provide the Cavs with a boost.