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Marcus Morris Sr.

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For the Anglican priest, see Marcus Morris (publisher). For other people with similar names, see Marc Morris (disambiguation).

Marcus Morris
Morris with Kansas in 2009
No. 8 – Los Angeles Clippers
PositionPower forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1989-09-02) September 2, 1989 (age 35)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeKansas (2008–2011)
NBA draft2011: 1st round, 14th overall pick
Selected by the Houston Rockets
Playing career2011–present
Career history
2011–2013Houston Rockets
2013–2015Phoenix Suns
2015–2017Detroit Pistons
2017–2019Boston Celtics
2019–2020New York Knicks
2020–presentLos Angeles Clippers
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference

Marcus Thomas Morris Sr. (born September 2, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The forward played college basketball at Kansas before being drafted 14th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2011 NBA draft. He has also played for the Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks.

Early life

Morris was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Thomasine "Angel" Morris. He has four brothers, Donte, Blake, David and twin Markieff, who also plays in the NBA.[1]

Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Morris was listed as the No. 10 power forward and the No. 29 player in the nation in 2008.[2]

College career

Morris attended the University of Kansas, where he majored in American studies.[1] He was named the 2010–11 Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year.[3] He also was named a second team All-American for his play in the 2010–11 basketball season by both the Associated Press and the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and a third team All-America by Fox Sports.[4][5] On March 30, 2011, Morris was named to the ten-member John R. Wooden Award Men's All American team.[6] Morris and his brother signed with a sports agent from Los Angeles, and announced that they would enter the 2011 NBA draft.[7]

Professional career

Houston Rockets (2011–2013)

Morris was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 14th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, five minutes after his brother Markieff was taken with the 13th pick by the Phoenix Suns. He was assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League on January 2, 2012.[8] In his first game in the D-League on January 6, 2012, Morris recorded 33 points and 16 rebounds in a narrow 105–103 loss to the Dakota Wizards.[9] Morris returned to the Rockets on January 16, was reassigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on February 3, and returned to the Rockets again on February 20.[10]

After an injury to Patrick Patterson, Rockets head coach Kevin McHale named Morris the opening day starter at power forward for the 2012–13 season. When told he would be starting, Morris thought McHale was kidding, since he rarely played his rookie season and was hurt during the preseason.[11] During the course of the season, Morris was the backup power forward to Patterson, and started 17 games while Patterson was injured. His three-point shot was much improved from his rookie season, more than tripling the percentage from 12% to 38%.

Phoenix Suns (2013–2015)

On February 21, 2013, Morris was traded to the Phoenix Suns, reuniting him with his twin brother.[12][13] A day later, he played his first game with his brother in the last 6 minutes of a loss to the Boston Celtics, as he recorded 7 points, 2 steals, and a rebound, despite having no formal training from the Suns before entering the game. This marked the second time that twin brothers played for the same NBA team; Dick and Tom Van Arsdale also played together for the Suns during the 1976–77 season. On March 1, 2013, Morris scored 16 points to help the Suns defeat the Atlanta Hawks 92–87. He made four out of five three-point attempts. He went on to start alongside Markieff on March 10, 2013 against his former team, the Rockets, which made the Morris twins the first set of twin brothers to ever start for the same NBA team.[14]

On September 29, 2014, Morris signed a multi-year contract extension with the Suns.[15] In the Suns' 2014–15 season opener on October 29, 2014, Morris recorded 21 points in the 119–99 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.[16] During the Suns' January 7 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Morris received a technical foul and was caught on national TV berating head coach Jeff Hornacek about the situation.[17] It resulted in Morris not playing for the rest of the game.[18] His other antics during his final season with the Suns and afterwards, though, led to AZCentral.com labeling him one of Arizona's biggest sports villains.[19]

On February 6, 2015, Morris recorded his first career double-double with career highs of 34 points and 12 rebounds in a 100–93 win over the Utah Jazz.[20] His double-double off the bench marked him as just the second player after Brook Lopez in 2014–15 to record a 30-point, 10-rebound game off the bench. The last Suns player to do it was Danny Manning in 1997.[21] In a March 22 game against the Dallas Mavericks, the Morris twins had double-doubles in the same game for the first time in their professional careers.[22]

Detroit Pistons (2015–2017)

Morris battling for the ball with his brother Markieff Morris of the Washington Wizards.

On July 9, 2015, Morris was traded to the Detroit Pistons, along with Reggie Bullock and Danny Granger, in exchange for a 2020 second-round draft pick.[23] He made his debut for the Pistons on October 27, 2015, in the team's season opener against the Atlanta Hawks. In 37 minutes of action as a starter, he recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds in a 106–94 win.[24] On April 1, 2016, he scored a season-high 31 points in a 98–89 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.[25] The Pistons finished the regular season as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 44–38 record, earning a playoff berth for the first time since 2009. In their first-round series against the top-seeded, eventual champion Cleveland Cavaliers, the Pistons were swept 4–0.

On February 3, 2017, Morris scored a career-high 36 points in a 116–108 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.[26] On February 28, Morris set a new career high with 37 points in a 120–113 overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers.[27]

Boston Celtics (2017–2019)

On July 7, 2017, Morris was traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Avery Bradley and a 2019 second-round draft pick.[28] On March 31, 2018, he scored 25 points in a 110–99 win over the Toronto Raptors. It was his fourth straight game with at least 20 points, setting a career high.[29]

New York Knicks (2019–2020)

On July 16, 2019, Morris signed with the New York Knicks.[30] On January 5, 2020, Morris scored a career-high 38 points and tied his career high for field goals made (13) in a 135–132 loss against the Los Angeles Clippers.[31]

Los Angeles Clippers (2020–present)

The Knicks traded Morris to the Los Angeles Clippers in a three team trade with the Washington Wizards on February 6, 2020, sending Maurice Harkless to New York and Jerome Robinson to Washington; the Clippers also acquired Isaiah Thomas from the Wizards in the trade.[32]

Morris debuted for the Clippers on February 9, 2020, scoring 10 points in a 133–92 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs, Morris was ejected during game 6 after he committed a flagrant foul on Luka Dončić and was fined $35,000, but was never suspended.[33] In the 2020 Western Conference Semifinals, Morris notably had an altercation with Paul Millsap as the Clippers fell in seven games after the Nuggets came back from a 3-1 series deficit. Morris averaged 11.8 points and 4.8 rebounds during the playoffs.

On November 25, 2020, Morris re-signed with the Clippers with a 4 year, $64 million contract.[34]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2011–12 Houston 17 0 7.4 .296 .118 .750 .9 .2 .1 .1 2.4
2012–13 Houston 54 17 21.4 .428 .381 .653 4.1 .9 .5 .3 8.6
2012–13 Phoenix 23 6 16.1 .405 .308 .405 2.5 .7 .8 .2 5.7
2013–14 Phoenix 82 1 22.0 .442 .381 .761 3.9 1.1 .9 .2 9.7
2014–15 Phoenix 81 35 25.2 .434 .358 .628 4.8 1.6 .8 .2 10.4
2015–16 Detroit 80 80 35.7 .434 .362 .749 5.1 2.5 .8 .3 14.1
2016–17 Detroit 79 79 32.5 .418 .331 .784 4.6 2.0 .7 .3 14.0
2017–18 Boston 54 21 26.8 .429 .368 .805 5.4 1.3 .6 .2 13.6
2018–19 Boston 75 53 27.9 .447 .375 .844 6.1 1.5 .6 .3 13.9
2019–20 New York 43 43 32.3 .442 .439 .823 5.4 1.4 .8 .4 19.6
2019–20 L.A. Clippers 19 19 28.9 .425 .310 .818 4.1 1.4 .7 .7 10.1
Career 607 354 27.0 .432 .367 .759 4.7 1.5 .7 .3 12.1

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2016 Detroit 4 4 36.0 .468 .389 .870 3.3 2.5 .5 .0 17.8
2018 Boston 19 4 29.6 .368 .417 .712 5.4 1.1 .4 .3 12.4
2019 Boston 9 4 28.2 .519 .450 .742 8.1 1.2 .1 .6 13.7
2020 L.A. Clippers 13 13 29.8 .505 .475 .929 4.8 1.6 .8 .1 11.8
Career 45 25 30.0 .437 .439 .772 5.6 1.4 .5 .2 13.0

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2008–09 Kansas 35 22 18.5 .495 .400 .604 4.7 1.1 1.0 .3 7.4
2009–10 Kansas 36 33 24.7 .570 .375 .660 6.1 1.0 .9 .3 12.8
2010–11 Kansas 38 36 28.3 .570 .342 .688 7.6 1.6 .8 .6 17.2
Career 109 91 24.0 .555 .358 .660 6.2 1.3 .9 .4 12.6

Personal life

Morris is seven minutes younger than his identical twin brother, Markieff. He is a fan of his hometown Philadelphia Eagles while Markieff roots for the rival Dallas Cowboys.[35] His nicknames are "Mook" and "Flask Dad".[36] Morris' girlfriend Amber Soulds gave birth to a son, Marcus Jr., on July 20, 2018.[37][38] Beginning with the 2018–19 season, Morris donned "Morris Sr." on the back of his gameday jersey.[39]

The Morris brothers and former teammates Goran and Zoran Dragić all briefly played for the Suns during the fourth quarter of the team's January 2, 2015 112–96 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. It marked the first time in the NBA's history that two pairs of brothers were on the court for the same team at the same time.[40]

On February 26, 2012, after watching the final Border War basketball match between Kansas and Missouri, the state of Kansas filed battery charges against Morris and another assailant, Julius K. Harris, for punching an employee of the Cave, a bar and nightclub in Lawrence, Kansas. Morris and Harris entered a diversion agreement for the battery charge, with Morris paying a $300 diversion fee, $60 in court fees, and agreeing not to come in contact with the victim or The Cave for one year.[41]

On January 24, 2015, Marcus and Markieff Morris were involved in two aggravated assault cases as five different men (including the twins and former Baltimore Ravens safety Gerald Bowman) allegedly assaulted 36-year-old Eric Hood outside the Nina Mason Pulliam Recreation Center in Phoenix, Arizona.[42][43] Hood mentored the Morris twins from high school until the end of their college careers; the brothers assaulted Hood for "sending an inappropriate text message" to their mother. The case against the Morris brothers was first brought on August 3, 2015;[44] the trial concluded on October 3, 2017, with the twins and Gerald Bowman found not guilty and the accused Julius Kane and Christopher Melendez Jr. confessing their guilt in September 2017. In spite of the resolution the incident was considered a catalyst for the Suns trading Marcus to the Pistons on July 9, 2015[45] and a factor in dealing his brother to the Washington Wizards on February 18, 2016.[46]

References

  1. ^ a b University of Kansas. "Player Bio: Marcus Morris". Kansas Athletics. Archived from the original on September 3, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  2. ^ "Rivals.com". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  3. ^ Kansas' Marcus Morris named Big 12 Player of the Year The Sporting News, March 7, 2011
  4. ^ Goodman, Jeff (March 7, 2011). "Goodman's 2010–11 All-America teams". Fox Sports. Fox Sports Interactive Media. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  5. ^ J-W Staff (March 29, 2011). "Marcus Morris tapped 2nd-team All-America". Lawrence Journal-World. The World Company. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  6. ^ Bedore, Gary (March 31, 2011). "Kansas basketball signee Naadir Tharpe praised". Lawrence Journal-World. The World Company. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  7. ^ J-W Staff Reports (April 8, 2011). "Morris twins sign with agent, will declare for draft". Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
  8. ^ "Rockets to send first-round draft pick Marcus Morris to D-League". January 3, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  9. ^ Williams, Clay (January 7, 2012). "Marcus Morris impresses in 1st D-League game". KGBT. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  10. ^ "Marcus Morris recalled from D-League; Cole Aldrich replaces Nick Collison for a night - 'Hawks in the NBA - KUsports.com". www2.kusports.com. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  11. ^ "Marcus Morris gets starting nod in place of injured Patterson". October 31, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  12. ^ "SUNS ACQUIRE MARCUS MORRIS - THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE PHOENIX SUNS". www.nba.com. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  13. ^ Houston Rockets trade Marcus Morris to Phoenix Suns
  14. ^ Info, ESPN Stats &. "Morris twins started for Suns tonight...first twins to start for a team in NBA history". Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  15. ^ "Suns Sign Marcus and Markieff Morris to Extensions - Phoenix Suns". Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  16. ^ "Lakers at Suns". Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  17. ^ mike sham (January 7, 2015). "Marcus Morris technical and yelling at Jeff Hornacek (1-7-15)". Retrieved November 17, 2017 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "Marcus Morris gets in shouting match with Jeff Hornacek". Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  19. ^ Joseph, Andrew (February 12, 2016). "The 10 biggest villains in Arizona sports". AZCentral.com. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  20. ^ "Jazz at Suns". Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  21. ^ "Phoenix Suns down Utah Jazz on strength of Marcus Morris' 34 points". Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  22. ^ "Phoenix Suns Game Notes" (PDF). NBA.com. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 26, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  23. ^ "Detroit Pistons Acquire Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock And Danny Granger From Phoenix". NBA.com. July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  24. ^ "Pistons vs Hawks". Archived from the original on October 28, 2015. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  25. ^ "Mavericks vs Pistons". Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  26. ^ "Morris, Leuer lead Pistons over Timberwolves 116-108". ESPN.com. February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  27. ^ "Morris, Pistons outlast Portland 120-113 in OT". ESPN.com. February 28, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  28. ^ "Boston Celtics Acquire Marcus Morris". NBA.com. July 7, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  29. ^ "Morris scores 25 as Celtics beat East-leading Raptors 110-99". ESPN.com. March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  30. ^ "New York Knicks Sign Reggie Bullock and Marcus Morris". NBA.com. July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  31. ^ "Marcus Morris Compiles Career-High 38 Points In Defeat". rotoballer.com. January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  32. ^ "L.A. Clippers Acquire Marcus Morris Sr. in a Three Team Trade". NBA.com. February 6, 2020.
  33. ^ https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2907344-marcus-morris-fined-35k-for-recklessly-striking-luka-doncic-luka-fined-15k
  34. ^ https://www.nba.com/clippers/news/la-clippers-re-sign-forward-marcus-morris-sr
  35. ^ "Q&A with Marcus Morris". THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE HOUSTON ROCKETS. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  36. ^ "Morris Twins Get Fan-Decided Tattoos". NBA.com. September 16, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  37. ^ Vertsberger, David (January 31, 2019). "FOR NBA TWINS MARCUS AND MARKIEFF MORRIS, IT'S FAMILY OVER EVERYTHING WITH THEIR FOUNDATION". Retrieved March 31, 2019.
  38. ^ Butler, Alex (July 20, 2018). "Celtics' Marcus Morris welcomes newborn son, predicts he'll make the Hall of Fame". upi.com. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  39. ^ Marcus Morris has Sr. moment … on jersey and in life
  40. ^ "76ers at Suns". Archived from the original on September 1, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  41. ^ "Ex-KU basketball player Marcus Morris enters diversion agreement for battery charge". KUsports.com. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  42. ^ "Suns' Morris twins charged with felony assault". Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  43. ^ "Opening statements begin Monday for ex-Suns players' in assault case". Az Central. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  44. ^ "Morris assault case could extend to late in season". Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  45. ^ "Markieff Morris reacts to Suns trade of Marcus Morris". Az Central. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  46. ^ "Wizards get Markieff Morris from Suns at deadline". Retrieved November 17, 2017.
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