In a meeting with a ticket for the playoffs at stake, it’s the unexpected Max Strus which came out of its box. While only running at 11.5 points per game over the season, he would single-handedly score the first 12 points for the Heat, shooting 4/5 from 3-pointers. We then begin to understand that something special is happening.
“I had a few easy baskets to start the game. Once I got into the rhythm, everyone felt better in the team” told Max Strus. “It is flammable. Be careful, if he puts on two or three, it can turn into a night like this” added Erik Spoelstra.
Max Strus therefore caught fire, and it lasted all evening. With 23 points at halftime, he finished the game with 31 points at 8/16 shooting including 7/12 from 3-pointers. At the end of the game, he even scored the basket that sealed the fate of the Bulls, and qualified the Heat in the playoffs.
The Chicago native
A performance all the more symbolic as Max Strus is a kid from… Chicago.
He was thus born and raised in Hickory Hills, in the southern suburbs of the city. He began his academic career at Lewis University, before transferring to DePaul, located in the city of Chicago. Undrafted in 2019, and after a brief stint with the Celtics, he joined the Bulls with whom he made his Grand League debut in 2019 against… Miami. But now, he only plays two games with Chicago. Worse, a few weeks later, he suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in the G-League.
In 2020, he participates in the Heat’s training camp. A conclusive trial, which allows him to sign a “two-way contract” in Florida. Before, the following year, to get a real contract there.
“I just hope that when I come back to Chicago this summer, I don’t get in trouble” quipped Max Strus. “It should be fine, I think I have a few fans supporting me… but it sure is pretty cool to beat your hometown team”.
Max Strus has in any case released the biggest game of his career. A feat that comes at the right time, since the player is a “free agent” this summer. A detail that does not escape Jimmy Butler.
“For me, honestly, I think Max made a lot of money tonight” said Jimmy Butler. “The work he does shows. It really shows. He puts effort into every possession. He tries to do the right thing in attack, he tries to do the right thing in defence. We love him for it”.
| Max Strus | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2019-20 | CHI | 2 | 3 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.5 |
| 2020-21 | MIA | 39 | 13 | 45.5 | 33.8 | 66.7 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 6.1 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 68 | 23 | 44.1 | 41.0 | 79.2 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 10.6 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 80 | 28 | 41.0 | 35.0 | 87.6 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 11.5 |
| Total | 189 | 23 | 42.7 | 37.1 | 82.0 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 10.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
