_(cropped).jpg) Morris with theBoston Celtics in 2018 | |
| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1989-09-02)September 2, 1989 (age 36) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 218 lb (99 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
|
| College | Kansas (2008–2011) |
| NBA draft | 2011: 1st round, 14th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Houston Rockets |
| Playing career | 2011–present |
| Career history | |
| 2011–2013 | Houston Rockets |
| 2012 | →Rio Grande Valley Vipers |
| 2013–2015 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2015–2017 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2017–2019 | Boston Celtics |
| 2019–2020 | New York Knicks |
| 2020–2023 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2023–2024 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2024 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Marcus Thomas Morris Sr. (born September 2, 1989) is an American professionalbasketball player who last played for theCleveland Cavaliers of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He playedcollege basketball for theKansas Jayhawks before being selected 14th overall by theHouston Rockets in the2011 NBA draft.
Morris was born inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania, to Thomasine "Angel" Morris. He has four brothers, Donte, Blake, David and twinMarkieff, who also plays in the NBA.[1]
Considered a four-star recruit byRivals.com, Morris was listed as the No. 10 power forward and the No. 29 player in the nation in 2008.
Morris attended theUniversity of Kansas, where he majored inAmerican studies.[1] Morris was named the 2010–11Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year.[2] He also was named a second teamAll-American for his play in the 2010–11 basketball season by both the Associated Press and theNational Association of Basketball Coaches, and a third team All-America byFox Sports.[3][4] On March 30, 2011, Morris was named to the ten-memberJohn R. Wooden Award Men's All American team.[5] Morris and his brother signed with a sports agent from Los Angeles, and announced that they would enter the2011 NBA draft.[6]
Morris was selected by theHouston Rockets with the 14th overall pick in the2011 NBA draft, five minutes after his brother Markieff was taken with the 13th pick by thePhoenix Suns. Morris was assigned to theRio Grande Valley Vipers of theNBA Development League on January 2, 2012.[7] In his first game in the D-League on January 6, 2012, he recorded 33 points and 16 rebounds in a narrow 105–103 loss to theDakota Wizards.[8] 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.[9]
After an injury toPatrick Patterson, Rockets head coachKevin 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.[10] 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%.
On February 21, 2013, Morris was traded to thePhoenix Suns, reuniting him with his brother Markieff.[11][12] The next day, Morris played his first game with his brother in the last six minutes of a loss to theBoston Celtics, as he recorded seven points, two 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 andTom Van Arsdale also played together for the Suns during the1976–77 season. On March 1, 2013, Morris scored 16 points to help the Suns defeat theAtlanta Hawks 92–87. He made four out of five three-point attempts. Morris went on to start alongside Markieff on March 9, 2013, against his former team, the Rockets, which made the Morris twins the first set of twins to ever start for the same NBA team.[13]
On September 29, 2014, Morris signed a multi-year contract extension with the Suns.[14] In the Suns' 2014–15 season opener on October 29, 2014, he recorded 21 points in the 119–99 win over theLos Angeles Lakers.[15] On January 7 game against theMinnesota Timberwolves, Morris received a technical foul and was caught on national TV berating head coachJeff Hornacek about the situation.[16] It resulted in Morris not playing for the rest of the game.[17] His other antics during his final season with the Suns and afterwards, though, led toAZCentral.com labeling him one of Arizona's biggest sports villains.[18]
On February 6, 2015, Morris recorded his first career double-double with career highs of 34 points and 12 rebounds in a 100–93 victory over theUtah Jazz.[19] Morris' double-double off the bench marked him as just the second player afterBrook Lopez in 2014–15 to record a 30-point, 10-rebound game off the bench. The last Suns player to do it wasDanny Manning in 1997.[20] On March 22 against the Dallas Mavericks, the Morris twins had double-doubles in the same game for the first time in their professional careers.[21]
On July 9, 2015, Morris was traded to theDetroit Pistons, along withReggie Bullock andDanny Granger, in exchange for a 2020 second-round draft pick.[22] He made his debut for the Pistons on October 27, 2015, in the team's season-opener against theAtlanta Hawks. In 37 minutes of action as a starter, Morris recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds in a 106–94 victory.[23] On April 1, 2016, he scored a season-high 31 points in a 98–89 loss to theDallas Mavericks.[24] 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 championCleveland Cavaliers, the Pistons were swept 4–0.
On February 3, 2017, Morris scored a career-high 36 points in a 116–108 victory over theMinnesota Timberwolves.[25] On February 28, he set a new career high with 37 points in a 120–113 overtime victory over thePortland Trail Blazers.[26]
On July 7, 2017, Morris was traded to theBoston Celtics in exchange forAvery Bradley and a 2019 second-round draft pick.[27] On March 31, 2018, he scored 25 points in a 110–99 victory over theToronto Raptors. It was Morris' fourth straight game with at least 20 points, setting a career high.[28]
On July 16, 2019, Morris signed with theNew York Knicks.[29] 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 theLos Angeles Clippers.[30]
On February 6, 2020, the Knicks traded Morris to theLos Angeles Clippers in a three-team trade with theWashington Wizards, sendingMaurice Harkless to New York andJerome Robinson to Washington; the Clippers also acquiredIsaiah Thomas from the Wizards in the trade.[31]
Morris debuted for the Clippers on February 9, 2020, scoring 10 points in a 133–92 victory over theCleveland Cavaliers. In the first round of the2020 NBA playoffs, he was ejected during Game 6 after committing a flagrant foul onLuka Dončić and was fined $35,000, but was never suspended.[32] In the 2020 Western Conference Semifinals, Morris notably had an altercation withPaul 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 on a 4-year, $64 million contract.[33]
On November 1, 2023, thePhiladelphia 76ers acquired Morris,Nicolas Batum,Kenyon Martin Jr. andRobert Covington from the Clippers in exchange forJames Harden,P. J. Tucker, andFilip Petrušev. As part of the trade, the Clippers dealt a first-round pick, two second-round picks, a pick swap, and cash considerations to the 76ers, while sending a pick swap and cash considerations to theOklahoma City Thunder.[34]
On February 8, 2024, Morris was traded to theSan Antonio Spurs in a three-team deal involving theIndiana Pacers.[35] However, he did not play any games for the Spurs,[36] and was waived on February 29.[37]
On March 18, 2024, Morris signed a 10-day contract with theCleveland Cavaliers,[38] and on March 29, he signed for the rest of the season.[39]
On September 15, 2024, Morris re-signed with theNew York Knicks,[40][41] but was waived on September 28.[42]
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | 26.7 | .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 |
| L.A. Clippers | 19 | 19 | 28.9 | .425 | .310 | .818 | 4.1 | 1.4 | .7 | .7 | 10.1 | |
| 2020–21 | L.A. Clippers | 57 | 29 | 26.3 | .473 | .473 | .820 | 4.1 | 1.0 | .6 | .3 | 13.4 |
| 2021–22 | L.A. Clippers | 54 | 54 | 29.0 | .434 | .367 | .872 | 4.4 | 2.1 | .5 | .3 | 15.4 |
| 2022–23 | L.A. Clippers | 65 | 65 | 28.1 | .426 | .364 | .782 | 4.0 | 1.8 | .6 | .3 | 11.2 |
| 2023–24 | Philadelphia | 37 | 7 | 17.2 | .439 | .400 | .861 | 2.9 | .7 | .4 | .3 | 6.7 |
| Cleveland | 12 | 0 | 15.0 | .441 | .414 | .625 | 2.1 | .8 | .2 | .2 | 5.8 | |
| Career | 832 | 509 | 26.6 | .435 | .377 | .774 | 4.4 | 1.5 | .7 | .3 | 12.0 | |
| 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 | 28.3 | .519 | .450 | .742 | 8.1 | 1.2 | .1 | .6 | 13.7 |
| 2020 | L.A. Clippers | 13 | 13 | 29.9 | .505 | .475 | .929 | 4.8 | 1.6 | .8 | .1 | 11.8 |
| 2021 | L.A. Clippers | 19 | 18 | 31.8 | .430 | .375 | .750 | 4.3 | 1.5 | .5 | .5 | 12.2 |
| 2023 | L.A. Clippers | 3 | 2 | 22.8 | .345 | .167 | 1.000 | 4.0 | .0 | .3 | .3 | 8.7 |
| 2024 | Cleveland | 9 | 1 | 15.3 | .458 | .391 | .667 | 2.8 | .3 | .4 | .0 | 6.1 |
| Career | 76 | 46 | 28.4 | .433 | .406 | .771 | 4.9 | 1.2 | .5 | .3 | 11.8 | |
| 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 | |
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Morris is seven minutes younger than hisfraternal twin[43] brother,Markieff. He is a fan of his hometownPhiladelphia Eagles while Markieff roots for the rivalDallas Cowboys.[44] His nicknames are "Mook" and "Flask Dad".[45] Morris' girlfriend Amber Soulds gave birth to a son, Marcus Jr., on July 20, 2018.[46][47] Beginning with the 2018–19 season, Morris donned "Morris Sr." on the back of his gameday jersey.[48]
The Morris brothers and former teammatesGoran andZoran Dragić all briefly played for the Suns during the fourth quarter of the team's January 2, 2015 112–96 victory over thePhiladelphia 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.[49]
On February 26, 2012, 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 inLawrence, Kansas in which they had been watching the finalBorder War basketball match between Kansas and Missouri. 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.[50]
On January 24, 2015, Marcus and Markieff Morris were involved in two aggravated assault cases as five different men (including the twins and formerBaltimore Ravens safetyGerald Bowman) allegedly assaulted 36-year-old Eric Hood outside the Nina Mason Pulliam Recreation Center inPhoenix, Arizona.[51][52] 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;[53] 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[54] and a factor in dealing his brother to theWashington Wizards on February 18, 2016.[55]
On January 11, 2024, Morris was awarded the key to the City of Philadelphia for his contributions on and off the court. The Morris twins helped create the Family Over Everything Foundation, an organization that assists members of under-served communities in Philadelphia and other cities.[56]
On July 27, 2025, Morris was arrested inBroward County, Florida on an out-of-state related fraud-insufficient funds check charge, $265,000 worth of bad checks were written.[57][58] Morris was then detained without bond.[59] On August 7, the fraud and theft charges against Morris, which had been filed inLas Vegas, Nevada, were dismissed after he agreed to pay off $265,000 in gambling debts which he owed to theWynn Las Vegas and theMGM Grand Hotels and Casinos in Las Vegas.[57]
'We're actually fraternal (twins),' Markieff said. 'But people think we're identical, so we run with it.'
