On April 24, 2013, Darius Morris from the Lakers aggressively goes towards the basket while playing against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the Western Conference playoffs.(D. Clarke Evans / Getty Images)
It is uncertain if he was hurt by the February ruling against his father, Dewayne Morris Sr., and older brother, Dewayne Morris Jr., who were both convicted by a jury of conspiracy and three charges of bank fraud. Dewayne Jr. was also convicted of witness tampering.
Morris commented on his contract risk, saying it was a brave move for a second-round draft pick. He emphasized the importance of having faith and working hard in order to be successful.
Darius Morris, who is now a player for the Lakers, has a history at Michigan.
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After her spouse and one child receiving their punishments and another child passing away unexpectedly, Robin Morris is understandably deeply upset. The day after Darius’s death, she reached out to Villegas.
In 2014-15, Morris’ concluded his NBA tenure with the Nets, but he also participated in the G League and played in China, Russia, and France. In 2019, he made a final effort to make a comeback in the NBA by joining the Las Vegas Summer League. As someone who had previously played in the summer league, Morris noticed a contrast in experience.
“When I first saw him play, I immediately recognized his exceptional talent,” stated Villegas, who is currently the athletic director at St. Monica High School. “He had that ‘it’ factor.”
Morris states to Bleacher Report that he is currently in a transitional period of his career where he has gained valuable experience and can provide advice to others. He has played in both playoffs and regular season games, alongside legendary players and with a variety of different teams and situations in the G League, even signing 10-day contracts. He also had the opportunity to play alongside Kobe Bryant, making him able to connect with anyone.
Villegas stated that Darius elevated the school’s status. He believed that Darius was not only a skilled player, but also a fantastic person and teammate. Darius exemplified all the qualities of a successful individual – both on and off the field.
Coach Miguel Villegas, who guided Windward to its first CIF state high school title in 2009 with Darius as their star athlete, expressed that Darius’s main goal was to return to the court and have the opportunity to continue playing. “Our conversation didn’t revolve around basketball, but more about catching up and checking in on how he was doing,” stated Coach Villegas.
There is no evidence linking Darius Morris to the case involving accusations against Dewayne Sr., a long-time supervisor for the U.S. Postal Service in Venice and Marina del Rey. He is accused of obtaining postal money orders worth up to .1 million and his son, Dewayne Jr., is accused of depositing them in bank accounts and withdrawing the funds through fraudulent means.
A year ago, Morris accompanied his parents to celebrate the 50th birthday of his former high school coach. They engaged in friendly discussions with old friends and past teammates.
Morris achieved a new record for most assists in a single season at his school, Michigan, during his sophomore year. He received the third-team All-Big Ten recognition and was also Michigan’s most valuable player.
The federal district court in San Diego has set a date of June 3 for the sentencing. The two individuals are potentially facing a maximum of 30 years in prison.
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In his final year, he fulfilled his commitments and guided Windward to win the Division V state championship. He earned the title of CIF Southern Section player of the year. In the last quarter of the state final, he scored 13 out of his 25 points.
The 2011 NBA draft saw the Lakers select him in the second round, choosing him as the 41st overall pick. He was presented with a two-year deal but opted to only sign for a single year, anticipating that if he made the team, he would warrant a pay increase in the second year. As predicted, he appeared in 19 games in his first season and the Lakers decided to double his salary for the following year.
Mike Bresnahan, the Lakers analyst for Spectrum SportsNet and formerly a beat writer for The Times for 12 years, described Darius as an extremely friendly individual who was constantly smiling.
In 2012, a segment on SportsNet Backstage Lakers showed Morris taking on the role of cinematographer at a Thanksgiving gathering at center Dwight Howard’s house and on a team flight. He sat next to Bryant in his assigned seat.
A Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner spokesperson has reported that Morris, 33, passed away on May 2 at a personal residence. It may take up to three months for the exact cause of death to be determined.
It may be too early to grieve the loss of Darius Morris. Many still vividly remember the dynamic point guard’s standout performance in a 2013 playoff series when he stepped up to start for the Lakers.
In January 2014, Morris appeared in 10 games for the Clippers and also had short periods with the teams in Philadelphia, Memphis, and Brooklyn. He spent time playing both internationally and in the NBA G League until the 2020 season in France was canceled due to the COVID shutdown.
Each morning, Morris’s father would drop him off at Windward before going to work at the post office. Morris would spend his time shooting basketballs until school began.
The lasting memories of Morris will be of his enthusiastic character and charming grin as he played for the Lakers alongside his mentor, Kobe Bryant, following his success at Windward High in Mar Vista and the University of Michigan.
I admire that once he reached the NBA, he committed to savoring every moment. He prioritized having a good time. Darius never let go of this mindset.
Despite the Lakers’ defeat, Morris managed to score 24 points and make six assists while facing off against All-Star guard Tony Parker. He also started Game 4 and added six assists and eight points.
“If you have a talented young player who is moving between the G League, I am familiar with all the tips. However, I am currently in my prime and capable of performing at a top level. I still have abundant skills.”
During the 2012-13 season, even with Bryant suffering a torn Achilles’ tendon and point guard Steve Nash breaking his leg, the Lakers were able to qualify for the playoffs and compete against the San Antonio Spurs. In the first two games, Morris played as a substitute, but due to guard Steve Blake’s hamstring injury, he started Games 3 and 4.
Villegas expressed, “Think about that discussion. I have a close relationship with his parents and I witnessed his growth from a lanky fourteen-year-old to a young adult. The grieving has just started for everyone.”
Villegas and Morris crossed paths during Villegas’ eighth grade year. Despite Morris being bold and small, he had to shoot with both hands from his hip to make it to the basket. However, he confidently declared that he would be able to dunk and that Windward would win a state championship before he graduated.Read more: Ex-Lakers pick Darius Morris, an L.A. product, seeks his NBA footholdDewayne Jr. also was accused of paying his rent with the bogus money orders and he was convicted of threatening his landlord — who had testified against him before a grand jury — while on pretrial release.
This article was initially featured in The Los Angeles Times.
Morris stated that he is simply preserving the present moment for those who are not present. He mentioned that it is a joyful and joyful experience.
