For Marcus Morris, there are things a lot more important to him than winning a championship: his son, and his family.
“I’m coming here for a purpose, for my family,” Morris said to reporters on Friday. “I never had a father growing up. Really changed my outlook on life. Fatherhood has been, if I can put my finger on it, the best thing that ever happened to me. It’s big for me to spend time with them. In our society today, we need fathers growing up.
“That’s something big that we’re missing in the black community. Growing up without a father, you know, puts so much stuff in perspective. I’m just happy to be one. I’ve got another son on the way sometime in September. Excited about fatherhood, excited about teaching my boys. I can’t wait.”
Morris said the reason he was late to the bubble was due to some things going on with his family. He currently has a two-year-old son, with another son expected to be born in September. When his second son is born, Morris plans on leaving the bubble to be there for the birth.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said.
If you didn’t already know how important family is to Morris, just look at the back of his jersey. He’s he only player in the NBA with “SR.” on the back, and that’s no coincidence.
“My son’s a junior, and it made me want to put a senior on the back of my jersey,” he said to the Boston Herald back in 2018. “It’s my first child — just reflecting back on my childhood, I never had a father. In that sense it meant a lot to me.”
Not having a father growing up has given Morris a new outlook on life, and an appreciation for the beauty of fatherhood.
After missing a lot of practice time, Morris jumped right back into it the other day. After one practice, Morris played in the first scrimmage game with the Clippers on Wednesday.
“I had to be a professional, stay in shape,” Morris said. “You know, just getting ready any way I can, continue to help my team. I thought if I came in the best shape possible, it would be easier for me to get accustomed with the guys, being able to jump right in. I only practiced once. I went and played a full game. I’m happy with myself. Proud of myself.”
Morris finished with nine points and six rebounds in 19 minutes of work.
Although he’s only spent a handful of time with his new team since being traded, Morris is confident that the Clippers have something special and that being together in this bubble is going to help them establish an even better bond.
“This [was] a close-knit team before I got here,” Morris said. “I only played 12 or so games. Guys are mature. Veterans mixed in with a sprinkle of young guys that really get it. Definitely being here, seeing each other more, spending more time definitely bring us closer. I’m excited about playing.”