Max Strus Bio
Max Strus (born March 28, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Known online as ‘The Concept,’ he plays as a guard and has built a reputation as a long-range shooter with a knack for late-game heroics. After going undrafted in 2019, Strus carved out an NBA career through two-way contracts and steady development before emerging as a rotation player for the Miami Heat and, later, a starter for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall, Strus played college basketball for the Lewis Flyers and the DePaul Blue Demons, where he set multiple scoring and three-point records. He helped the Miami Heat reach the 2023 NBA Finals and signed a four-year, $63 million contract with Cleveland in 2023. His professional journey from undrafted free agent to key contributor has made him one of the more notable recent success stories in the league.
Early Life and Background
Max Strus was born on March 28, 1996, in Hickory Hills, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He is of Slovenian and German descent. His father, John Strus, played college baseball as a pitcher at Eastern Illinois University, while his mother, Debra Strus, played basketball and volleyball at DePaul University and was inducted into the DePaul Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. His older brother, Marty, also played basketball at Lewis University and later became the head coach at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School. Max also has an older sister, Maggie, who played college volleyball at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Strus attended Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, where he played both baseball and basketball. He entered his sophomore year at just 5 feet 9 inches tall but experienced a significant late growth spurt, reaching 6 feet 5 inches by the end of high school. As a senior, he averaged 19 points and nine rebounds per game and was honored as the area player of the year by The Reporter, in addition to earning All-Southwest Suburban Conference, All-Area from the SouthtownStar, and third-team All-State recognition.
Despite his senior production, Strus received only one Division I offer, from Chicago State, and opted to play at the Division II level. He committed to Lewis University, the same program where his older brother Marty had played, setting the stage for his collegiate development.
Path to Basketball
Strus began his collegiate career at Lewis University with an immediate impact. As a freshman, he averaged 13.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, started all 31 contests, and was named Second-Team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). In his sophomore season, Strus elevated his play dramatically, averaging 20.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, all team highs. He earned First-Team All-GLVC honors and was recognized as an Honorable Mention Division II All-American.
During his sophomore campaign, Strus set Lewis University single-season records with 167 free throws made and 666 points scored. He also established a new single-game scoring record with 52 points on 14-of-18 shooting against Northwood University on November 24, 2015. Over two seasons at Lewis, he accumulated 1,078 points before announcing his decision to transfer to a Division I program.
Strus transferred to DePaul after his sophomore year and had to sit out one season due to NCAA transfer rules. In his first eligible season, he led the Blue Demons with 16.8 points per game and knocked down 81 three-pointers, the second-most in a single season in program history. He declared for the 2018 NBA Draft but ultimately returned to school for his senior year.
Max Strus Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, Strus joined the Boston Celtics Summer League roster, where he averaged 9.8 points per game and shot 45 percent from three-point range. On July 22, 2019, he signed a two-way contract with Boston. The Celtics later converted him to a standard NBA contract on October 13, 2019, but Strus was waived shortly before the regular season began.
Strus then signed a two-way contract with his hometown Chicago Bulls on October 22, 2019. He made his NBA debut on November 22, 2019, against the Miami Heat, scoring five points in five minutes during a 116-108 loss. His rookie season was cut short on December 23, 2019, when the Bulls announced he had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and bone bruise in his left knee during a G League game for the Windy City Bulls, sidelining him for an estimated eight to twelve months.
Miami Heat Era (2020–2023)
On November 30, 2020, Strus signed a training camp contract with the Miami Heat, which was converted to a two-way deal on December 19, 2020. He posted 21 points on five-of-eight shooting from three-point range against the Houston Rockets on February 11, 2021. On August 6, 2021, he signed a two-year, $3.5 million contract to remain with the Heat.
The 2022-23 season marked Strus’s emergence as a key rotation piece. On April 14, 2023, he scored 31 points against the Chicago Bulls in a play-in tournament win, combining with Jimmy Butler for 62 points in a 102-91 victory. Strus added 19 points in an Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 3 win over the New York Knicks on May 6. However, he struggled in the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets, averaging just 5.8 points on 23 percent shooting as Miami lost the series in five games.
Cleveland Cavaliers Era (2023–Present)
On July 6, 2023, Strus signed a four-year, $63 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers in a sign-and-trade agreement. He made an immediate impact in his debut on October 25, 2023, posting 27 points, 12 rebounds, and seven made three-pointers in a 114-113 win over the Brooklyn Nets. His seven threes set a new record for most three-pointers made by a player in a debut in Cavaliers history.
On February 27, 2024, Strus delivered one of the most memorable performances of his career, scoring 21 points in a 121-119 win over the Dallas Mavericks. In the final 67 seconds of the fourth quarter, he connected on five three-pointers, including a buzzer-beating game-winner from 59 feet, the second-longest game-winning buzzer-beater since 1979. In 2024-25, Strus appeared in 50 games (37 starts), averaging 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, though his season was interrupted by injuries, including a right ankle sprain and a Jones fracture in his left foot requiring surgery announced on August 26, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Strus is recognized primarily as a perimeter shooter with the ability to stretch defenses beyond the arc. His quick release and confidence in late-game situations make him a dangerous option in clutch moments, as evidenced by his performance against Dallas. He also contributes as a rebounding guard and has shown the capacity to facilitate offense, averaging multiple assists in recent seasons.
Notable Events and Milestones
Strus’s 59-foot buzzer-beater against the Mavericks in February 2024 stands as his most celebrated moment, placing him among an elite group of players with five three-pointers in the final four minutes of a game. His seven made three-pointers in his Cavaliers debut set a franchise record, and his run to the 2023 NBA Finals with Miami highlighted his development from undrafted prospect to playoff contributor.
Max Strus Career Wins
Max Strus’s career is defined more by individual performances and milestones than by championship titles. As an undrafted player, his ascent from two-way contracts to a multi-year, $63 million deal with Cleveland represents a significant achievement in modern NBA career trajectories.
Miami Heat Highlights
During his three seasons with the Miami Heat, Strus established himself as a reliable shooter and playoff contributor. His 31-point performance in the 2023 play-in tournament against the Chicago Bulls helped propel Miami into the playoffs. Although the Heat fell short in the NBA Finals against Denver, Strus’s role in that playoff run solidified his reputation as a big-stage performer.
Other Wins & Performances
Strus scored 1,078 points in two seasons at Lewis University and 1,226 points across two seasons at DePaul, placing him 29th in Blue Demons history. He set single-season school records at DePaul with 311 three-point attempts and 113 three-pointers made, becoming only the second player in program history to score 700 points in a season.
Max Strus Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Basketball runs deep in the Strus family. Max’s mother, Debra Strus, played basketball and volleyball at DePaul and was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. His father, John Strus, was a pitcher on the Eastern Illinois baseball team. His older brother, Marty, played at Lewis University and is currently the head basketball coach at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, while his older sister, Maggie, played college volleyball at the University of Illinois at Chicago and serves as an assistant volleyball coach at DePaul.
Personal Life
Max Strus maintains close ties to the Chicago area, where he grew up. Known as ‘The Concept’ by many NBA fans online, he has built a strong following through social media and on-court performances. He remains connected to his family, with several relatives involved in collegiate and high school athletics.
2025 Season Performance
Max Strus entered the 2025 calendar year continuing his recovery from a right ankle sprain that had kept him out of the early portion of the 2024-25 Cleveland Cavaliers season. He returned to action and played in 50 games with 37 starts, averaging 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. Despite the injuries, he provided valuable perimeter shooting and veteran presence in the Cavaliers rotation.
On August 26, 2025, the Cavaliers announced that Strus would undergo surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot and was expected to miss three to four months. The injury adds another setback to a season already disrupted by physical issues, but Strus remained under contract through the 2026-27 season as part of his four-year, $63 million deal.
Looking ahead, Strus’s recovery timeline positions him to return late in the 2025-26 NBA season. His ability to shoot from long range and contribute in clutch moments remains a valuable asset for the Cavaliers as they continue their pursuit of playoff success. Health will be the primary factor determining his impact in the latter portion of the year.