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Max Strus of the Cleveland Cavaliers after Game 5 of the second-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons.

After the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Detroit Pistons in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series on Wednesday, Charles Barkley made an unexpected comparison between Max Strus and Tom Brady.

Speaking on the postgame coverage of Inside The NBA on ESPN, Barkley was mesmerized by Strus’ looks. He called him a pretty man, similar to what he said about Brady a few years ago.

“First of all, Max Strus played great,” Barkley said. “I’m thinking what everybody was thinking. That’s a pretty man.”

After being pressed by Kenny Smith, Barkley explained that he’s not going to make the same mistake by looking at Strus’ eyes. He did answer if he’s going to put the Cavs swingman on the same level as Brady in terms of attractiveness.

“Yes, he’s in Tom Brady’s class, and he’s a better shooter than Tom Brady,” Barkley said.

The Round Mound of Rebound also blushed a bit after Smith joked that Barkley has a type after his remarks about Brady and Strus.

Max Strus Helps Cavs Take 3-2 Series Lead

GettyDonovan Mitchell #45 talks with Max Strus #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 07, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan.

While his looks got Charles Barkley mesmerized, Max Strus had the Pistons bamboozled on the court in Game 5. Strus scored 20 points off the bench in the Cavaliers’ 117-113 overtime win over the Pistons on Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena.

Strus made a pivotal play late in overtime, stealing the ball from Cade Cunningham with 2:32 remaining. He then passed it to Donovan Mitchell for an easy layup and a 112-105 lead.

The Cavs hang on for their first road win of the 2026 NBA playoffs. James Harden came up big, finishing with 30 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Mitchell had 21 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Evan Mobley came up clutch in the fourth quarter, scoring seven of his 19 points in the Cavs’ comeback. Cunningham had 39 points for the Pistons, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the loss.

Charles Barkley on Tom Brady’s Attractiveness

GettyCharles Barkley and Tom Brady meet during Capital One’s The Match at The Reserve at Moonlight Basin on July 06, 2021 in Big Sky, Montana.

After Charles Barkley’s remarks about Max Strus went viral, fans started making memes about it, and they were shown on Inside The NBA. There were plenty of Tom Brady memes, but when did Barkley confess his admiration for the NFL legend’s looks?

Back in 2022, Barkley discussed meeting Brady and being speechless when talking to him.

“Every time I’m around him, when he start talking to me and I would make you contact, I don’t remember nothin’ he say after that,” Chuck said, via TMZ Sports. “We’ll start talking and then I make eye contact and then you know … that’s a pretty man.”

It was also not the first time Barkley gushed about Brady’s look on national television. He told the same story back in 2019 during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.