TMZ Sports has confirmed the passing of Darius Morris, a former guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, earlier this week. He was just 33 years old. “It is with profound sadness that we announce the loss of our dear son, Darius Aaron Morris,” expressed his family in a statement on Saturday morning. “During this challenging period, we kindly ask for privacy and compassion.”
The reason behind Morris’ passing remains undisclosed. E! News has attempted to contact Morris’ representative but has not received a response.
Hailing from Los Angeles, Morris began his basketball career with the University of Michigan’s Wolverines before being selected by the Lakers in the 2011 draft. He played two seasons with the Lakers, sharing the court with NBA icon Kobe Bryant, who tragically passed away in a plane crash in 2020.
Morris had a successful college career with the Wolverines, playing two seasons and earning third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2010-2011. During his sophomore year, he averaged 15.0 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game before transitioning to the NBA.
In the 2011 NBA draft, the Lakers selected Morris as the No. 41 overall pick. He played his first two NBA seasons with the Lakers, appearing in 48 games and making 19 starts during the 2012-13 season. Morris notably averaged 10.5 points and 3.0 assists in the Lakers’ first-round playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs, starting two of the four games.
Following his time with the Lakers, Morris spent the 2013-14 season with the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Memphis Grizzlies. He concluded his NBA career during the 2014-15 season, playing 38 games for the Brooklyn Nets.
Photo credit:Los angles Lakers
From 2016 to 2020, Morris continued his professional basketball journey, playing in various leagues and teams. He had stints in the G League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Santa Cruz Warriors, as well as overseas in China, Russia, and France. Additionally, Morris participated in the NBA summer league with the San Antonio Spurs
