Max Strus is an important player in the Heat's dark horse legend in the 2022-23 season. In the 2022-23 season, he averaged 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.5 steals per game, all setting career highs. He is also the outside shooter that the Heat rely on in the past two seasons; coming to Strus is also an important role player in the playoffs. He had a 41.21 TP3T outside shooting percentage in the first round and averaged 14.7 points per game against the Knicks in the second round.
However, Strus' career has been a standard one of eating sugar cane.
In 2019, Max Strus was not favored by any team in the draft after graduating from DePaul University. Strus first got a training camp contract from the Celtics, but was released by the team before entering the warm-up games. He then signed with the Bulls, but was reimbursed for the entire season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament during practice.
In 2020, Strus joined the Heat and got some opportunities. His performance was also recognized by the Heat and he received a two-year contract worth 3.5 million yuan. In the 2021-22 season, Strus became one of the main rotation players on the bench, averaging 10.6 points and 41% per game. three-point shooting percentage.
Playing a full season for the first time made Strus suffer from various fatigues, the most troublesome of which was myopia.
Strus has suffered from myopia since college and has been wearing contact lenses since the fifth grade of elementary school. His unclear vision and wearable contact lenses can easily be disturbed by every move on the field, including his opponents, teammates, and even his own. Any movement may cause his glasses to fall out, which will affect his performance. This has always caused Strus a lot of trouble on the court.
Strus made many attempts, including various contact lenses, goggles, ophthalmology, and also consulted about Lasik surgery used by many professional players, but in the end Strus chose novel technology and became the first batch to receive EVO implantable collagen lenses ( ICL) refractive surgery for professional athletes who want to improve their vision.
EVO lenses will be permanently implanted in the patient's eyes between the iris and the lens to reduce the interference of myopia. However, if the patient feels uncomfortable and does not want to remove it, the EVO lens can still be removed through surgery.
"Max's vision has reached 2.0 after wearing EVO, and he no longer suffers from myopia." said Dr. William Trattler, an ophthalmologist in Miami who performed Strus' surgery.
Strus also became a spokesperson for EVO lenses and helped promote the procedure.
"Myopia and wearing glasses have always been a problem for me growing up. No matter in life or playing ball, I worry about it every day. In order to find ways to improve it, I tried various lenses and ophthalmology." Strus said, "I discovered EVO surgery during research. It’s less invasive and provides permanent improvements, making my daily and professional life more comfortable.”
Strus was able to feel the world clearly the day after surgery,
Having just undergone EVO surgery, Strus had to adapt to the light sensitivity at first, but he can adjust after a while. "I have a clear world and don't have to worry about my contact lenses falling out or going to away games." I’ll take less with me sometimes,” Strus said.
Many professional players will choose to use Lasik laser surgery to improve their vision, but Strus believes that Lasik is too invasive and carries high risks. EVO lenses are not only safe, but also provide a way out. "Using EVO lenses is more secure. I still have a choice." In addition, EVO surgery has fewer side effects than laser surgery, and there will be no problems such as dry eye syndrome or floaters.
After returning from the off-season, Strus discovered during the Heat's five-point running shooting training that after his vision improved significantly, not only did the positions he was good at become more accurate and his shots more confident, but the positions where he was not accurate were significantly improved. "Clear vision makes my movement and shooting angles better. I can see the entire court clearly, even every corner."
The most important thing is that Strus does not have to worry about the contact lenses being knocked out or the various problems that arise. "I have to be distracted by the contact lenses in every game, but now I can concentrate on the court." Strus said, " It's like I have new eyes."
