The Cleveland Cavaliers are nearing the return of guard Max Strus, who is closing in on his season debut after spending months recovering from a foot injury.
According to Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Strus is approaching the final stage of his recovery following offseason surgery to repair a fracture in his left foot. The veteran guard has not appeared in a game this season while rehabbing the injury.
Vardon reported Tuesday:
“You haven’t heard much this NBA season about Strus, 29, because he hasn’t played. He is still fighting his way back from offseason surgery to repair a fracture in his left foot, and after months of waiting he is nearing a return that could happen within the next week.”
Strus underwent surgery in August to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot. At the time, Shams Charania reported that the procedure was expected to sideline him for approximately three to four months.
The Cavaliers provided an official update on Strus last week as he continued progressing through his rehabilitation program.
“Cavaliers guard/forward Max Strus continues his recovery following offseason surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot. 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.
The program will include controlled team activities and practice sessions with both the Cavaliers and the Cleveland Charge, the team’s NBA G League affiliate.
Strus will continue his rehabilitation and conditioning under the supervision of the Cavaliers’ medical and performance staff, with ongoing evaluation. Further updates will be provided as appropriate.”
Max Strus ramps up toward return as Cavaliers battle for East seeding
© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Strus recently took another notable step toward returning to the court. The Cavaliers recalled the 29-year-old forward from the Cleveland Charge after he practiced with the team’s G League affiliate Monday. The practice session marked a key milestone as the veteran shooter ramps up toward full game activity.
The upcoming return would provide Cleveland with another perimeter option as the team enters a critical stretch of the regular season.
During the 2024-25 campaign, Strus averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists across 50 appearances, including 37 starts. He shot 44.2% from the field and 38.6% from three-point range while averaging 25.5 minutes per game in his second season with the Cavaliers.
Cleveland has remained competitive despite Strus’ extended absence. The Cavaliers enter the week with a 40–25 record, placing them fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. They trail the New York Knicks (41–25) by just half a game for the conference’s third seed.
The Cavaliers will soon begin a two-game road trip starting Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic (35-28). Orlando enters the matchup riding a four-game winning streak as both teams continue jockeying for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.
If Strus completes the final steps of his rehabilitation in the coming days, his long-awaited return could provide Cleveland with additional depth and shooting as the team pushes toward the postseason.