CLEVELAND — Small forward De’Andre Hunter revealed Sept. 29 during Cavaliers media day he expects to start, and he also had a conversation with coach Kenny Atkinson about it.
Max Strus, Cleveland’s primary starter at small forward last season, is expected to miss a significant portion of the 2025-26 season after undergoing foot surgery Aug. 26. The door is open for Hunter to enter the starting lineup instead of serving as the team’s sixth man when the Cavs begin the regular season Oct. 22.
“I feel like that’s probably a role I will have,” Hunter said of starting. “So that’s something I’m gearing for and looking towards.”
Hunter explained Atkinson asked him this offseason whether he wants to start. Hunter said he told Atkinson the answer is yes.
Hunter and Atkinson have gotten to know each other much better this offseason on the heels of Hunter arriving in Cleveland this past February in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks.
“It makes it a lot easier because, honestly, before I didn’t know how to approach him or what to say to him exactly,” Hunter said. “But now that I know him, I feel comfortable saying anything because I know what kind of person he is. So, like I said, building that relationship definitely helps me, and I think it helps him as well, just being able to talk basketball and everything else.”
Max Strus injury update
Strus slowly strolled through Rocket Arena during Cavs media day without wearing a walking boot.
Last month, the Cavs announced Strus had surgery to repair a Jones Fracture (fifth metatarsal) in his left foot suffered during offseason training. The team stated Strus is expected to resume basketball activities in approximately three to four months from the time of his Aug. 26 surgery.
“I’m five weeks out of sugery,” Strus said. “I’m not going to put a timetable on my return. I [am scheduled for] a check-in with the doctor at week six. So hopefully [I will] start the getting-back process from that. I’m in a good spot right now. Everything seems to be healing.”
Strus said the broken foot occurred when he tried to jump during a workout.
“It just cracked,” he added. “[I was] kind of unlucky and unfortunate, but we’re here now and dealing with it. I’ll be all right.”
De’Andre Hunter stats
Last season, Hunter started nine of the 64 regular-season games in which he appeared with the Cavs and Hawks. He averaged 17 points on 47% shooting from the field (40.5% on 3-pointers), four rebounds and 1.4 assists.
Hunter came off the bench for all eight Cavs playoff games in which he appeared. He missed one game with a thumb injury.
Hunter’s career averages are 14.8 points on 45.2% shooting from the field (37.3% on 3-pointers), 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists.
Max Strus stats
Last season, Strus started all nine Cavs playoff games. He started 37 of the 50 regular-season games in which he appeared after missing time with a sprained right ankle. He averaged 9.4 points on 44.2% shooting from the field (38.6% on 3-pointers), 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists. The previous season, Strus started all 70 regular-season games and all 12 playoff games in which he appeared with the Cavs.
A former key contributor with the Miami Heat, Strus has career averages of 10.4 points on 42.7% shooting from the field (36.8% on 3-pointers), 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs small forward De’Andre Hunter expects to start, a natural move with Max Strus injured
Reporting by Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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