CAMDEN, N.J. — When Marcus Morris Sr. joined the Philadelphia 76ers, he was ready for a fresh start. The Philadelphia native was acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in the James Harden deal, and Morris stated he was ready to surprise some people with his hometown Sixers.
It has been a slow start for Morris. In nine games, he is averaging 2.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 8.9 minutes per game. He’s had games in which he has played only in garbage time, games in which he’s only received a two-minute look in the first half, and in which he’d get a big opportunity. Two of the latter opportunities came Nov. 22 in a start against the Minnesota Timberwolves and on Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It has been tough for Morris, a veteran in his 13th season and a starter for the majority of his career, to find a rhythm in Philadelphia.
“Just naturally being a 12-year starter or something like that,” Morris stated on Sunday at practice. “Trying to find my way. It’s a little different, you know what I’m saying? I didn’t expect it to go that way. So, you know, it’s a challenge and I’m up for the challenge. So, like I said, whatever’s thrown my way, I accept it and try to help the team in any capacity I can.”
Despite the situation not going his way at the moment, Morris has been a professional. He has entered every day with the right mindset and he has been working hard in order to stay ready for the next opportunity that presents itself to him.
“Always professional first,” he said. “That’s how I’ve been in the league as long by staying professional and being ready for the minutes that I’ve been in. It’s a little difficult being at home, obviously. Not being able to get the minutes that I expected or wanted personally, but everybody’s competing. Everybody’s trying hard. We’ve been winning so I can’t go out my way and say why am I not playing when we’ve been winning basketball games.”
Marcus Morris Sr. drilling triples after practice today #Sixers pic.twitter.com/g3E9f6YmAu
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) November 26, 2023
Morris’ ability to provide toughness down low and knock down a 3-ball consistently has given him a chance to earn minutes as a small-ball 5. Coach Nick Nurse liked what he saw in his start against the Timberwolves.
“That certainly gives us a possibility to do it. I think in the second half, especially, it looked good,” said Nurse. “I think the most important thing from that was that we got to get him out there and see him. We just haven’t — the guy’s landed and the games were coming so fast. I just haven’t had much of a chance to even evaluate them.”
Morris provided nice minutes off the bench in the win over the Thunder and Nurse now knows what he thinks he has in the veteran out of Kansas.
“I thought he provided some nice stuff, and I think that’s probably on the back of getting 25/26 minutes a couple of nights earlier so I feel good about where we’re at with him,” Nurse finished. “I wasn’t sure going into Minnesota where he was, where he fit, what position. Now we certainly know we got some small-ball 5 possibilities with him, but I just think that now we know we got a guy that’s kind of catching up and on board and can play.”
No matter what the Sixers ask of Morris, he’s ready for the task.
“Whatever they ask of me, that’s what I’m gonna do,” he said. “If that’s the case, then that’s the case.”
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