Max Strus Unlocking New Skill With Cavs

Max Strus is averaging a career-high in assists in his first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Max Strus because of his elite three-point shooting ability. The small forward has largely lived up to that reputation as Strus has knocked down 35% of his threes on 6.9 attempts a game. 

However, Strus is unlocking a new strength in his game as a key peice to the offense. That is creating more opportunities for his teammates. Strus has become a tremendous playmaker for the Cavs and is dishing out a career-high 3.8 assists a game, almost doubling what he did with the Miami Heat a season ago.

Cleveland’s last few games have really highlighted this ability. Strus is averaging 5.2 assists in the Cavs’ last eight contests including three games with eight or more assists.

Apr 10, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (1) passes during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

This isn’t something that has surprised head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. 

“People don’t give him enough credit for being a basketball player,” said Bickerstaff. “Everybody wants to talk about his ability to shoot, create space, and all that. But Max is a full, complete basketball player. He’s been elite with our big guys at finding them in the pocket, finding lobs for them, and putting pressure on the play. He is a complete basketball player.”

Strus being able to feed Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley takes so much pressure off Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell to be primary playmakers. When either of those guards gets extra pressure from defenses, the team knows they can’t count on Strus to find the open man.