Max Strus definitely earned his spot in the starting lineup with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
Strus couldn’t be stopped during the team’s opening game against the Brooklyn Nets, scoring 27 points and going 7-of-13 from the three-point line.
Following the game, Donovan Mitchell shared some very kind words about his new teammate.
“This is not a bad way to start,” Mitchell said, according to Camryn Justice.
#Cavs Donovan Mitchell on Max Strus' debut with the team: "This is not a bad way to start."
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) October 26, 2023
Strus’ performance was one of the record books.
He scored the third double-double of his career with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 assists.
In the first half of the game, Strus repeatedly lit up the scoreboard, earning five of his three-pointers.
That would help the Cavaliers ultimately overtake the Nets, 114-113, their first season opening win on the road since the year 2000.
Mitchell is very pleased to see how Strus performed because it confirmed that the team made the right choice when they signed him this summer.
He did great work during his time with the Miami Heat, but now that he’s moved to the Cavaliers, Strus will get more time on the floor and more opportunities to shine.
When the Cavaliers acquired Strus, some fans were unsure of how he would fit into the lineup.
Was he going to be a starter or a bench player?
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff gave him the chance to prove himself on opening night, and now it seems very likely that Strus will stay in the starting five.
Last season, Strus averaged 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists with the Heat.
If he keeps playing as he did on Wednesday night, he will definitely surpass those numbers during his first year with Cleveland.
On Wednesday night, Strus gave the Cavaliers exactly what they were hoping for.
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