The NBA is simply a different animal, and for many players who make it to the big leagues, it’s either they embrace the harsh reality that not everyone will become a superstar or flame out trying to become one.

Max Strus seemingly understands it, as he’s long learned to accept being someone who’s closer to a Robin than to a Batman in the league. That kind of reality pill can be tough to swallow, especially for someone who’s been “the guy” at every level until reaching the NBA. 

“I used to have a bag back in college, but I don’t anymore,” Strus said during a recent appearance on Link with JB (h/t HoopRumors). “You find what your niche is and you just go at it. I knew shooting the basketball was going to get me on the floor, and then I knew playing defense was going to keep me on the floor, and that’s kind of what I’ve done.

I’m going to guard. I’m not afraid to guard anybody. I’ll guard the best player. I don’t care. They’re going to score on me because everybody’s that good. You can’t really stop anybody anyway. So it’s like, how can I make it as tough as possible on them?

Strus was a stud in college, and was so important to the DePaul Blue Demons that he led not just the team but the Big East in minutes with 37.4 a game in 2018-19, while putting up 20.1 points per contest on 15.5 attempts.

Strus was immediately humbled in the pros, going undrafted in 2019 and playing only two games when he got called up in 2019-20.

Strus has come a long way from that, and he’s mindset allowed him to stick around for six seasons and counting.

“I think doing those other little things like that – rebounding, defending, making a pass, an extra pass – keeps me in the game, keeps me wired. 

I don’t need to shoot the ball, I’m all right. I can do other things that I know are helping the team win, (that) I know are making our best players better. That’s kind of where I’m at in my career, being a glue guy.”