Markieff Morris — #11 PF
Age:
24
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
Birthday: Sept. 2, 1989
Height: 6-10
Weight: 245
Position: PF
Experience: 2 years
Draft: 2011, 13th overall by Phoenix
College: Kansas
2013-14 Salary: $2,091,840
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Consult our advanced stats page for a glossary and discussion of the preceding metrics.
Season Outlook: It’s time for Markieff Morris to be the player the Suns believed he could be when they selected him 13th overall two years ago. With Marcin Gortat gone to D.C., Emeka Okafor still dealing with injury and Channing Frye still working his way into shape after a year-long absence, Markieff is the senior member of the Suns’ front court. Markieff has shown flashes of being a very talented and tough player. He has dominated in the last two Summer Leagues, but failed to translate those performances to the regular season.
This year it’s possible that the team’s reliance on him will cause him to blossom. The Suns recently picked up Morris’ rookie option, and that trust could pay dividends in his performance in 2013-14. Offensively, his shot selection and efficiency must improve. He’ll be operating both in the paint and on the perimeter. Taking good shots in the flow of the offense will be key. He can score from outside and with his back to the basket, but it’s deciding when to attack and when to keep the ball moving that he’s struggled with in the past. Defensively, Kieff has quickness and good shot blocking instincts, but his shortcomings have been in positioning and rotating within the team’s defensive system. He will have to be more focused in order to succeed on that end of the floor.
The last thing to note for this season is the chemistry between the Morris twins. The Suns acquired Marcus to enhance both brothers’ play. That hasn’t happened outside of the Vegas Summer League. They are both in a de facto contract year and will have to play better than they ever have in order to solidify their NBA futures. — Ryan Weisert
Biography: Though Markieff Morris is seven minutes older and stands a little taller, his twin brother Marcus has always cast a shadow over him. When the Phoenix Suns took Markieff with the 13th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, one pick before the Rockets selected Marcus, they gave him the opportunity the stand apart from his brother and show his worth as a basketball player.
Markieff was a high school star in Philadelphia. He and his brother led Prep Charter High School to consecutive state championships in 2006 and 2007. Markieff averaged 16 points and 15 rebounds per game in his senior season before accepting a scholarship to play at Kansas. In his three years in Lawrence, Kan., the Jayhawks won the Big 12 regular-season title three times. Kansas also made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances including last year’s trip to the Elite 8. In his final year at Kansas, Markieff averaged 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He also shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc, connecting on nearly three per game.
Links to ValleyoftheSuns coverage of Morris:
Markieff Morris can use this summer to become the Suns’ defensive specialist
Markieff Morris’ early dominance as seen by advanced stats
Markieff Morris is the do-it-all defender
Markieff Morris under the microscope