The Cleveland Cavaliers announced on Tuesday that guard Max Strus underwent successful surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot and is expected to miss three to four months. The injury, sustained during a recent workout, will likely sideline the 29-year-old for a significant portion of the upcoming regular season. A Jones fracture is a break in the fifth metatarsal, the bone that connects the pinkie toe to the base of the foot.
This is the second consecutive offseason that Strus has faced a significant injury setback. Last year, he missed the first two months of the season after suffering a sprained right ankle during preseason workouts. He eventually returned in late December and went on to appear in 50 regular-season games, where he averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while shooting 38.6% from three-point range.
Strus joined the Cavaliers prior to the 2023-24 season on a four-year, $63 million sign-and-trade deal after spending three seasons with the Miami Heat and one with the Chicago Bulls. In his debut season with Cleveland, he set a career-high with an average of 12.2 points per game. He also played a key role in the playoffs, averaging 11.7 points over nine games, including two 20-point performances in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers.
Throughout his 309-game NBA career, Strus has established himself as a reliable perimeter threat, averaging 10.4 points and making 156 starts. His absence will be a significant blow to the Cavaliers’ backcourt depth and outside shooting as they prepare for the start of the new season.
