The Ultimate Underdog Story: From Unranked High School Player to NBA’s Elite 3D Threat

There’s a saying in sports that the best players often come from the most unexpected places. For Max Strus, this could not be more true. His journey from an overlooked, unranked high school player to becoming one of the top 3-and-D players in the NBA is a tale of perseverance, grit, and relentless hard work. It's the ultimate underdog story—a true testament to what happens when talent is honed through sweat, determination, and an unwavering belief in one's abilities.

Born and raised in Illinois, a state known for its rich basketball culture and home to iconic NBA teams like the Chicago Bulls, Strus grew up in a family steeped in sports. His father was a member of a college baseball team, and his mother was a star in both women’s basketball and volleyball. Strus was the youngest of three children, and like many kids in his situation, he was surrounded by athleticism and competition. His older brother, Marty, played basketball at the collegiate level before venturing into coaching, while his older sister, Maggie, became a volleyball coach at DePaul University.

Despite this sports-centric upbringing, Strus initially showed more interest in baseball and football. However, things changed during his fifth grade year when his vision started deteriorating, making it difficult to compete in contact sports. After several broken bones and challenges with glasses flying off during games, Strus was forced to give up football. It was at this point that he began to embrace basketball, following in the footsteps of his brother, who was a key figure on his high school basketball team. Little did anyone know, this decision would lay the groundwork for Strus’s NBA future.

High school wasn’t kind to Strus. At 1.96 meters tall (about 6’5”) and with relatively average athleticism, Strus failed to garner any attention from top-tier Division 1 (D1) schools. His skills were solid, but he lacked the explosive talent that scouts look for in top-tier prospects. As a result, Strus graduated without receiving any scholarship offers from D1 programs, and even D2 schools seemed out of reach. It seemed like his basketball dreams were fading, but fate had other plans.

With the help of his brother, Strus was offered a chance to play at Lewis University, a school known more for its academic programs than its basketball prowess. While the basketball program wasn’t particularly strong, it was an opportunity for Strus to keep playing and work on his game. He took full advantage of it. Strus dedicated himself to improving his skills, training tirelessly, and even undergoing eye surgery, which improved both his vision and his height—he grew 10 centimeters during this time.

Strus’s sophomore season was a breakthrough. He quickly became the team's leading scorer, dropping 52 points in a game against Northwood University. By the end of that season, he had scored 666 points, setting a new school record and attracting the attention of several D1 programs, including DePaul University, where his sister coached. Eventually, Strus chose to transfer to DePaul, following in his sister's footsteps, despite the skepticism surrounding his skills.

When he first stepped onto the court at DePaul, doubts were rampant. His physique didn’t scream NBA material: at 1.96 meters and 87 kilograms (about 6’5” and 191 pounds), he was considered too slow, with limited athleticism and only a moderate vertical jump of 74 centimeters. Additionally, due to NCAA transfer rules, he had to sit out for a year, further complicating his situation.

It was during this frustrating year that Strus began working with head coach Dave. Recognizing Strus's potential, Dave didn’t shy away from tough love. He saw something in Strus—a player who could become a true 3-and-D specialist if he put in the work. Dave’s training program was rigorous, involving countless hours of film analysis, shooting drills, and one-on-one defensive sessions. Strus was forced to sharpen his skills in ways that would prepare him for the rigors of professional basketball.

Dave’s plan was to turn Strus into an elite 3-and-D player, someone who could shoot the three-pointer with consistency and lock down opponents on defense. The regimen was grueling. Strus would watch countless hours of film of other players at his position, studying their movements, shot timing, and positioning. His shooting workouts were intense, with Strus focusing on catch-and-shoot drills, footwork, and shooting under pressure. To improve his defense, Strus was regularly challenged by teammates in one-on-one sessions, where he was only allowed to play defense and not shoot.

The results spoke for themselves. By the time his final season at DePaul rolled around, Strus had evolved into a deadly scoring threat. He averaged 20 points per game and grabbed 5.9 rebounds. His three-point shooting improved drastically, and he became a pest on defense. However, despite his individual success, DePaul’s overall performance didn’t warrant much NBA attention, and Strus went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Scouts were concerned about his knee injuries, with his draft report highlighting his “high risk” due to a torn ACL from earlier in his career. Nevertheless, Strus’s journey wasn’t over. It wasn’t long before the Chicago Bulls gave him a shot, offering him a two-way contract. Unfortunately, Strus’s injury woes resurfaced during his brief time with the Bulls. After only two games, he tore his ACL again, and his contract was ultimately terminated once he healed.

The following year was a chaotic one in the NBA, with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the league into a hiatus. As teams scrambled to fill rosters with healthy players, Strus received a call from the Miami Heat. The Heat, a team known for its intense training culture and no-nonsense approach, took a chance on Strus, who was ready to prove himself.

Strus’s time in Miami was transformative. The Heat’s rigorous training environment was a perfect fit for him. With a mindset honed by years of overcoming adversity, Strus quickly adapted to the Heat’s "next man up" mentality, where every player competes for a spot on the court. He worked his tail off to refine his defense and shooting, quickly earning the respect of his teammates and coaches.

Strus’s breakout year came during Miami’s Eastern Conference Championship run, where he became an integral part of the team’s success. His defense was fierce, and his three-point shooting was on target, making him one of the league’s premier 3-and-D players. His development under the Heat’s system was a perfect culmination of everything he had worked for.

Strus’s performance didn’t go unnoticed, and it wasn’t long before he became a vital cog in the Heat’s rotation. His shooting precision and ability to guard multiple positions made him an invaluable asset. And when the Heat clinched the Eastern Conference Championship, Strus’s former coach, Dave, was among the first to congratulate him.

"I always knew you had it in you," Dave said, his voice brimming with pride. "You've done it. You've earned it."

Strus’s tears were a mixture of gratitude and disbelief. His hard work had paid off, and he had finally made it to the top, not because of inherent talent but through sheer determination and a relentless work ethic. This was a victory not just for Strus, but for every player who ever doubted themselves—every underdog who was told they didn’t belong.

Strus’s story is a clear reminder that success in basketball, and in life, is often about more than just talent. It’s about embracing the grind, putting in the work, and constantly striving to improve. Strus’s rise to NBA stardom wasn’t a result of raw athleticism or divine talent—it was a story of grit, determination, and the will to prove that anything is possible with enough effort.

Max Strus is a living testament to the fact that no dream is too big, no obstacle too great, and no player too overlooked to make it in the NBA. The true essence of his journey is that he didn’t let his limitations define him; instead, he turned them into strengths, becoming the ultimate example of an underdog who refused to give up.