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Lakers forward Markieff Morris, center, cheers along with teammates on the sideline during the overtime win over the Knicks at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Markieff Morris hadn’t met Dalton Knecht, knowing him only as much as anyone in basketball knew him — as a bold scorer who dominated college basketball at Tennessee before flashing that bucket-getting ability in the NBA.
The two were now teammates, the veteran and the rookie, Morris traded to the Lakers with Luka Doncic and Maxi Kleber while Knecht sent back to the team after its trade with Charlotte for Mark Williams collapsed.
In those first meetings, Knecht wasn’t the same confident person or player. The business of the NBA had just smacked him directly upside the head, a team showing little hesitation to send him out the door only to be forced into welcoming him back because of a failed physical by Williams.
At best it was awkward. At worst, it was a problem.
As Knecht processed how he’d handle returning to a place where he no longer felt wanted, Morris approached him for a talk.
“Be ready. No matter what, be you,” he told Knecht. “When you get the ball, just go be you. And play like how you play, confidently, how you played at Tennessee.
Markieff Morris, standing alongside Luka Doncic, right, brings 14 years of NBA savvy to the Lakers. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
“…At the end of the day, just be you. Be ready to shoot. Stay confident. If they wanted the trade, like who gives a f—? Go out there and stay confident.”
The talk mattered, Knecht regaining his footing, his on-court joy and his place in the Lakers’ rotation during their undefeated six-game homestand. During that stretch, Knecht averaged 9.3 points and made almost 45.8% of his three-point shots. His buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter Thursday propelled a comeback against the Knicks.
In that same game, Morris sat on the Lakers’ bench and sipped from a cup of tea. He was fighting an illness but still was there, watching, talking, advising. During that six-game homestand, Morris didn’t play a single minute.
Acquiring Doncic…
[ad_2]Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/lakers-markieff-morris-contributes-bench-100021588.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2025-03-10 10:00:00
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