“Bachelorette” star Jenn Tran has her eyes set on the Cleveland Cavaliers wing Max Strus after recently going through a messy breakup with her former fiancé, Devin Strader. Tran, who gained fame as the lead on Season 21 of the long-running dating franchise, made her crush on Strus public during an appearance on “The Viall Files” podcast, hosted by fellow Bachelor alum Nick Viall.
The 26-year-old New Jersey native didn’t hold back in expressing her interest. “Max Strus, if you’re out there and you’re single, I’m here and ready,” she said during the podcast, according to TMZ.
Originally, Tran had her sights set on Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum but quickly changed her mind when the podcast co-hosts informed her of his relationship with musician Ella Mai. After learning that Tatum was off the market, Tran turned her attention to Strus, the 6-foot-5 Cavaliers player known for his strong on-court presence.
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The podcast episode also touched on the emotional aftermath of Tran’s broken engagement to Strader, which played out in the Season 21 finale of The Bachelorette, airing earlier this month. In a candid moment, Tran shared that she’s focusing on personal growth after her split from Strader, who she says ended their relationship over the phone. “It was a tough breakup,” she admitted, explaining that the engagement was officially over soon after the season wrapped.
However, the breakup drama escalated earlier this week when Strader accused Tran of not being truthful about how the split went down. He even shared private text messages between the two, sparking further speculation and conversation online. Tran has remained mostly quiet about Strader’s claims, instead choosing to focus on her post-breakup journey and, apparently, her new crush.
Jenn Tran first entered the public eye during Season 23 of The Bachelor, before becoming the lead of The Bachelorette earlier this year. Known for her charm and resilience, Tran has amassed a significant following on social media, where fans have followed her ups and downs in the world of love and relationships.
As of Thursday, Tran and Max Strus are following each other on Instagram, sparking rumors that perhaps this public crush could lead to something more. Strus, who went undrafted out of DePaul University in 2019, began his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls before signing with the Miami Heat in 2020, where he spent three seasons. Now in his first year with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Strus had a solid season, averaging 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and four assists per game.
With both Tran and Strus making waves in their respective worlds, the question now is whether this public admiration will lead to a date—or perhaps something more. For now, Tran appears ready to move on from her recent heartbreak and explore new possibilities.
The Cavaliers are set to open the 2024-25 NBA season on October 23 against the Toronto Raptors.
Whether or not Strus takes Tran up on her playful proposal remains to be seen, but fans of both the Bachelorette and the NBA are certainly watching closely to see if this new connection takes flight.