Darius Morris

At 33 years old, Darius Morris has this physical status:

Darius Aaron Morris (born January 3, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for BC Enisey of the VTB United League.

Morris was selected as the 41st pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers and plays the point guard position.

He has also played for the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA as well as the Los Angeles D-Fenders and Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA D-League.

With the Vipers, he established a D-League playoff single-game assists record in 2014. Morris spent two seasons with the Michigan Wolverines basketball team.

While playing for the 2010–11 team, he was the Big Ten assists leader and set the Michigan single-season assist record (since broken by Trey Burke).

He earned third team All-Big Ten honors his sophomore season. Prior to attending Michigan, Morris led Windward School to the 2009 California state championship while earning the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section John Wooden High School Player of the Year Award.

He was a 2010–11 All-Big Ten 3rd team selection by the coaches and the media.

The National Association of Basketball Coaches named him as a 2nd team All-District selection for the district composed of Big Ten schools.

Early life

Morris was raised in Carson, California. In high school, Morris, the son of Dewayne Sr. and Robin Morris, attended Windward School. As a brash freshman, Morris promised the media that he would be able to dunk and lead Windward to a state championship before he graduated.

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High school career

Morris was invited to numerous All-Star basketball camps hosted by LeBron James, Steve Nash, the National Basketball Players Association, and Nike. In California, he was twice selected as a first-team All-State player. He was also named the MVP of several tournaments and was invited to attend numerous all-star tournaments, including the Academic All-American Classic. Morris' father worked at the Venice United States Postal Service Office.

Morris, a senior at Windward High School, captured the California Division V state championship, scoring a game-high 25 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in the championship game. Darius Morris was named the MVP of Olympic League, CIF Division 5A Southern Section Player of Year, and CIF Division 5A State Player of Year. Darius was also named a John Wooden High School Player of the Year Award, which was delivered by Jrue Holiday the year before. According to ESPN, Rivals.com, and Scout.com, he was ranked as the 11th, 15th, and 20th best high school basketball point guard in the country. He was included on both the 77th and the 100th best overall basketball players lists, according to Rivals and ESPN.

College career

Morris averaged 4.4 points and 2.6 assists per game on 24.3 minutes of playing time per game as a rookie with the 2009–10 team. Morris started the season for the #15 ranked Wolverines in the starting lineup on November 14, scoring 11 points and 5 assists against Northern Michigan. On January 10, 2010, he had a season-high 7 assists against Northwestern.

Morris was one of three Wolverines to make four three point shots against Bryant University on December 23, 2010. On his way to a double-double, he had 12 assists. The Big Ten Conference named Morris player of the week on December 27, 2010. Ann Arbor media was taken aback when it was revealed that the 67-man 2011 Bob Cousy Award watchlist was a surprise. Morris became the third Michigan Wolverines men's basketball player (following Gary Grant and Manny Harris) to win a triple double this week, earning the award with Talor Battle on Monday. Morris was by far the most valuable player to his team among major conference players on February 1, 2011 because of his combined assists and field goals, who account for over 53% of his team's points.

During the 2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, Morris set a new Michigan single-season assists record (235 in 35 games). Gary Grant (234 in 34 games, 1987–88) and Rumeal Robinson (233 in 37 games, 1988–89), the previous best single-season assists totals in Michigan history. The Big Ten Conference's average of 6.71 assists per game led the way. Morris also led the 2010-11 team in points per game and steals per game.

Darius Morris was selected as the third member of the Big Ten Conference in 2010-2011, both the conference's coaches and the conference's media. Morris was also a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division I of the All-District second team pick. Since the Big Tension Conference is in its own territory, this is similar to being named second team All-Big Ten by the NABC.

Morris sought the help of the NBA's undergraduate advisory committee to determine his draft prospects after the season. Morris made his final decision not to withdraw his name before the May 8 deadline and to enter the 2011 NBA Draft on May 4, 2011.

Professional career

Morris is described as the best true point guard in the draft by ESPN's Chad Ford. Morris was drafted in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft by his hometown Los Angeles Lakers in the second round, receiving the 41st overall pick. Morris appeared alongside colleagues Derek Fisher, Steve Blake, and Matt Barnes on the December 22 season 1 finale of The X Factor in the week leading up to the 2011–12 NBA season. In his first game for the Lakers, he played 13 minutes against Utah, scoring his first four points, his first two assists, and first rebound. The game went to overtime, marking the Lakers' first road victory of the season in four attempts. In subsequent games, Morris saw action after Blake suffered from a costrochaondral fracture of the cartilage that connects the rib to the sternum. During Blake's rib injury, Morris stayed in the main rotation for seven games before returning to a limited role. Morris was drafted to the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League on March 7, 2012. Morris made his Defenders debut on March 10, scoring 21 points. He was recalled by the Lakers on March 16, 2012. Morris tallied 9 points and 5 assists against the Sacramento Kings in the last game of the regular season on April 26.

Morris decided to re-sign with the Lakers on July 2, 2012, and he was promoted to the Lakers team for the July 13-22 Las Vegas NBA Summer League. Morris was the Lakers' top scorer and assistor in the Summer League. Darius Morris scored ten points, 5 assists, and 1 steal in a 101-77 Lakers victory over the Golden State on November 9, 2012, back up Blake, but Steve Nash was hurt. Morris made his first appearance against the San Antonio Spurs on November 13, with both Blake and Nash injured. Morris, a rookie, set career highs of 31 minutes and 6 assists against the Phoenix Suns on November 16. Chris Duhon replaced Morris as the starter on December 4 after he overtook him as the replacement starter. Morris scored a career-high 15 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on December 16, 2016. Kobe Bryant praised him for his defensive efforts just a few nights later. Morris was recalled to the starting lineup on December 22, replacing Metta World Peace, who came off the bench. This was part of Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni's common tactic of playing players out of place. Morris, who was only a starter, was supposed to shield the opposition's most inconsiderable perimeter player. World Peace returned to the starting lineup in Morris' place on January 4th. As Blake and others returned to the rotation in late January, Jodie Meeks replaced Morris in the rotation.

Morris was reassigned to the Los Angeles D-Fenders on March 7, 2013. On March 9, he was playing for the D-Fenders, scoring 21 points and adding 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal. He was activated on March 9, 2013. The Lakers sent him back to the D-Fenders on April 3, 2013. The next day, he was called back. Morris had his best day as a pro on April 26 against the San Antonio Spurs, with Bryant, Nash, Blake, and Meeks on the sidelines.

The Lakers decided on June 28 that they did not make Morris the $1.2 million qualifying bid before the July 1 deadline, which would have been required to make him a restricted free agent. Despite the fact that the team expressed an interest in re-signing Morris at a lower price tag and having him represent the team again in the summer league, the player would not be able to be an unrestricted free agent at the deadline because the qualifying offer was not made.

Morris signed with the Philadelphia 76ers on September 27, 2013. Morris was supposed to face Tony Wroten for the backup point guard position behind Michael Carter-Williams as the September 28 training camp date approached. When Carter-Williams missed games, it was Wroten who came into the starting lineup. In a 135-98 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on November 16, 2013, he scored a career-high 20 points and two assists. He was waived by the 76ers on November 20, 2013 as part of roster moves that included signing Elliot Williams and Lorenzo Brown and waiving Kwame Brown. He was one of several guards with the Memphis Grizzlies in December. At that time, Kobe Bryant was injured while the Los Angeles Lakers were injured, and point guards Blake, Nash, and Jordan Farmar were all injured. Kendall Marshall, on the other hand, was averaging 19.4 points and 9.6 assists in the D-League at the time.

After Chris Paul suffered a fractured shoulder, Morris signed a 10-day deal with the Los Angeles Clippers on January 6, 2014. Morris played his first game for the Clippers on the 81-81 victory over the Orlando Magic, scoring 8 minutes off the bench, as Morris scored his first point as a Clipper off a free throw. Morris signed his second 10-day deal with the Clippers on January 16. The Clippers decided not to keep him for the remainder of the season after his second 10-day deal came to an end on January 26.

Morris signed a 10-day deal with the Memphis Grizzlies on February 3, 2014. Mike Conley, Jr. had been injured, and Jerryd Bayless had been fired recently, leaving the team short of a point guard. Since his first 10-day deal came to an end, the Grizzlies did not give him a second 10-day deal on February 13, 2014.

Morris was purchased by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA D-League on March 17, 2014. He recorded his first professional double-double against the Bakersfield Jam on March 20, scoring 21 points and ten assists. Morris lost 31 points against the Austin Toros on March 21. In an overtime playoff loss to the Iowa Energy on April 12, Morris had 51 points and 18 assists. The result set a D-League single-game playoff record for assists and was the second highest single-game playoff point total.

Morris made his NBA Summer League debut in July 2014. He signed with the Portland Trail Blazers on September 24, 2014. However, the Trail Blazers cut him off later on October 25, 2014. The Brooklyn Nets made a two-for-one trade on December 11, 2014, securing a spot on their roster. chandelier Morris joined the team the day and made his Philadelphia debut against the 76ers the next day. He had two points and one assist. He was waived by the Nets on June 29, but the Nets refused him on June 29.

The Rio Grande Valley Vipers recalled Morris on March 29, 2016. He made his season debut in a 118–97 victory over the Oklahoma City Blues, with nine points, three rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 24 minutes off the bench. During the regular season, Morris led the Vipers in scoring and assists with 20.0 points and 6.4 assists per game. During the playoffs, he led the team with 23.3 points and 7.9 assists per game.

Morris was conditionally signed by Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) on January 5, 2018 to replace Edwin Jackson. He did not renew his deal with the Guangdong Southern Tigers until the team signed Donald Sloan as the replacement on February 21, 2018. Morris resigned with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on March 21, who were drafted on March 21.

Morris was accepted by the New Orleans Pelicans for training camp on September 4, 2018. On October 12, the Pelicans released him. He then joined the Santa Cruz Warriors of the G League. He scored a 25-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple double against the Iowa Energy on November 10, his second G League triple double double.

He has signed with BC Enisey of the VTB United League on August 20, 2019.

He signed with BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque of France's LNB Pro A on January 12, 2020. He was arrested for beating his mother just a few weeks after.

Morris was caught on a video in April 2021 as he was shaming his then-girlfriend and screaming for her phone.

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