Darius Morris, a former Michigan Wolverines guard and NBA player, has passed away at the age of 33, as confirmed by NBA insider Shams Charania.
“Four-year NBA veteran Darius Morris has passed away at the age of 33. Morris played for the Lakers, 76ers, Clippers, Grizzlies and Nets from 2011-2015.”
During his four-season stint in the NBA from 2011 to 2015, Morris played for various teams including the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Brooklyn Nets.
Following his NBA career, he continued playing basketball internationally until his retirement in 2020.
In college, Morris showcased his talent during his two seasons with the Wolverines.
In the 2010-2011 season, he led the Big Ten in assists and established the program’s single-season assist record.
Although Trey Burke later surpassed this record, Morris’ contributions earned him third-team All-Big Ten honors at the conclusion of the season.
Morris entered the NBA when he was selected in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers as the 41st overall pick.
However, he didn’t receive his call-up from the then-D-League until January.
It was in that game against the Utah Jazz where he made his mark, scoring his first four points, dishing out two assists, and grabbing one rebound, marking the beginning of his NBA career.
The following offseason, Morris re-signed with the Lakers, where he showcased his skills leading the 2012-13 Lakers Summer League team in both scoring and assists.
His defining moment with the Lakers came during one of the season’s opening games when he stepped up to the plate for an injured Steve Nash.
In that game, Morris delivered one of the standout performances of his Lakers tenure, contributing 10 points, five rebounds, five assists, and a steal in a resounding 101-77 victory.
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Following his time with the Lakers, Morris embarked on a journey through various NBA teams.
He joined the Philadelphia 76ers before the 2013 season but was waived by the end of November, failing to secure a regular stint with another team throughout his NBA career.
Subsequently, he had brief stints with the Memphis Grizzlies through 10-day contracts.
In 2014, Morris spent the offseason with the San Antonio Spurs Summer League squad and briefly signed with the Portland Trail Blazers before the season, only to be waived shortly after.
His NBA journey continued when he landed with the Brooklyn Nets in December of 2014, where he remained for the rest of the season.
Transitioning away from the NBA, Morris spent the period from 2016 to 2018 with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the D-League, an affiliate with the Houston Rockets.
He then ventured into the international basketball scene, playing in leagues in China, Russia, and France.
Notably, in 2019, Morris briefly returned to the NBA ecosystem with the New Orleans Pelicans organization, representing the Santa Cruz Warriors.
During his stint, he even achieved a triple-double.
Morris’s last professional basketball stint was in France in 2020, playing for BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque.
His cause of death is unknown currently.
