Written by: Brian Bernstein
“And with the 41st pick, in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select Darius Morris, from the University of Michigan.”
Those are the very words that changed Darius’ life. Morris, an L.A native, is someone who could potentially help strengthen the Lakers at one of their weakest positions, point guard.
Darius Morris hails from Los Angeles, California where he attended a small private high school in west L.A called Windward Preparatory School. Playing four years of varsity basketball for Windward, he left behind a legacy, leading the Wildcats to four straight league championships, a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern-Section Championship, and a Division-5 California State Boys Basketball Championship. He even faced then future Toronto Raptors’ Jrue Holiday during league play.
After Morris graduated high school he attended the University of Michigan. In his freshman year he was immediately inserted into the starting lineup of the Wolverines as point guard.
As a freshman, he had a sub-par year while he was adjusting to the collegiate style of play and attempting to understand his role on the team. Freshmen, or rookies, have to earn their teammates trust; however, that was a monstrous task because forward DeShawn Sims, a senior, and guard Manny Harris, a junior, were the leaders of the Wolverines.
As a sophomore, Darius had to quickly change his mindset from being a role player to becoming a leader and captain. Point guards, normally referred to as the floor general, are responsible for setting up the offense and making sure the team stays in control. When play gets ragged and unsettled, it is their job to get the team back under control, and Morris did not shy away from that responsibility.
Throughout his life, Darius has shown he has the ability, mindset, and determination to work hard and improve where needed. As a freshman, he shot 40% from the floor, averaging roughly four shots per game and only 2.6 assists, but that comes with the territory of being a rookie. In the following year, as a leader, he bumped up his averages across the board–minutes, shots, points, assists, rebounds, and steals. His shot total went up to around eight shot attempts on 49% shooting, from 4.4 points per game to 15, and 6.7 assists, which led the Big Ten Conference.
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His shooting is his weakness but he has shown that he is willing to put in the extra effort to improve. For example, his three-point shooting percentage jumped from 18% to 25%. Since missed three-point shots continue to be a Lakers weakness, Morris could become a deadly weapon for them from behind the arc. He just needs to remain steadfast in his determination and continue practicing in the off-season.
Where Darius does excel is anytime he has the ball in his hands. He is amazing in the open court running a fast break, and has outstanding court vision. As a point guard he is not thinking about what potentially is his best shot, but what is the team’s best scoring option–all the qualities you want from a point guard.
The Lakers have not seen this type of point guard since Magic Johnson retired. A flashy, smart, unselfish leader who is more focused on the team scoring rather than his personal stats. At 6’4” and 190-pounds, Darius has the height and the foot speed to keep up with guards like Chris Paul, Derek Rose, Rajon Rondo, etc..
Darius is the type of guard that frustrates opposing defenses because he has such a high basketball I.Q and is so smart with the ball. He can handle the ball under pressure, drive to the basket using his strength and size, and see passes that few guards, let alone players, see.
In an era where point guards, not centers, rule the NBA, Darius Morris is just the guy the Lakers need, a tall thick guard who can take advantage of mismatches against smaller defenders, and a guard who can penetrate the defense. Whether or not his drives to the basket result in lay-ups, his ability to get into the middle of the lane breaks down the defense leaving the perimeter shooters wide open. This is something the Lakers know all too well.
Morris is a good edition to the Lakers franchise as they embark on a new journey headed by coach Mike Brown. To be able to learn the NBA game of basketball from Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol, I can only imagine some of the mindsets that will be instilled in Morris as he matures.