SAD NEWS: Lakers loss a great point guarder of all time.
Darius Morris, a four-year NBA veteran point guard that played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets, has died at 33, his alma mater, the University of Michigan, confirmed on Saturday. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Morris played two years for Michigan under coach John Beilein, reaching the NCAA tournament during his sophomore 2010-11 campaign. His 235 assists that season set a new school record, which has since been passed by Trey Burke (260) and Zavier Simpson (236). After two seasons in college, Morris declared for the NBA Draft and was selected No. 41 overall by his hometown team: the Lakers.
Morris played for the Lakers during the last two playoff seasons of Kobe Bryant’s illustrious career, averaging 3.6 points in 67 total appearances for Los Angeles. With Bryant injured in 2013, Morris started two playoff games for the Lakers against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2012-13 season, but the Lakers were eliminated from that series in a four-game sweep.
Sentencing was postponed from June 3 until Aug. 5 in federal district court in San Diego for the judge to review three separate motions requesting a new trial filed by Anthony E. Columbo, the lawyer representing Dewayne Morris Jr. Columbo said Tuesday that he will file a fourth motion by Friday.
Columbo asserts that exculpatory material in the government’s possession pertaining to a cooperating witness was not shared with the defendants during trial. Colombo also said that if the motion is denied, he will appeal the case following sentencing.
Columbo said that Darius Morris had “absolutely no connection or involvement whatsoever in the case. I found him to be pleasant and a gentleman each time I met with him.”
Darius Morris was remembered for his exuberant personality and radiant smile. He led Windward to a CIF state Division V championship and was named CIF Southern Section player of the year in 2009. He scored 13 of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter of the state final.
He went on to set assist records at Michigan before being selected by the Lakers in the second round of the 2011 NBA draft.
