Cleveland’s push to stay among the East’s elite just hit a major setback. The Cavaliers announced Tuesday that guard Max Strus underwent surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot and is expected to miss three to four months.
🚨 Max Strus has underwent surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot sustained during a recent offseason workout.
He will miss approximately 3-4 months, per @ShamsCharania. pic.twitter.com/XCBCRHX3cD
— ClutchPoints NBA (@ClutchPointsNBA) August 26, 2025
The injury, which involves a break in the bone connecting the pinkie toe to the base of the foot, was sustained during offseason workouts. Cleveland confirmed that the 28-year-old is expected to return to basketball activities in three to four months.
It is another tough blow for the veteran, who also missed the opening stretch of last season with an ankle issue. He was sidelined for two months after suffering a right ankle sprain during training and didn’t return until midseason.
Once he was back, Strus carved out an important role, averaging 9.4 points and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 38.6 percent from beyond the arc.
His ability to stretch the floor and defend multiple positions became key to Cleveland’s rise into Eastern Conference contention.
Strus signed with the Cavaliers two summers ago in a four-year, $63 million sign-and-trade.
Since then, he has been leaned on heavily to provide veteran stability around a young core. His latest injury means he will miss the start of the season, which tips off October 22.
The timing leaves Cleveland without one of its most reliable perimeter options heading into a crucial campaign. Still, the organization expects him to be back before the heart of the playoff push.
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