Marcus Morris’ Kansas Jayhawks jersey is retired: ‘It’s an honor to be up there’
Former University of Kansas forward Marcus Morris had his KU jersey No. 22 retired in the south rafters of Allen Fieldhouse during a ceremony at halftime of the Jayhawks-Iowa State game Monday night in Allen Fieldhouse.
The 30-year-old Morris — he recently was traded from the New York Knicks to the Los Angeles Clippers — shared the honor with his brother, Markieff Morris, who was on the court for the halftime presentation.
Their mom, Angel, and Marcus’ girlfriend Amber and his son Marcus Jr. sat behind the KU bench during the ceremony.
“It’s an honor to be up there with all those great players, to come back and get my name up there alongside my brother,” said Marcus Morris, a nine-year NBA veteran who was Big 12 player of the year and second-team AP All-American in 2011.
“It’s very special and I”m very grateful for that,” he added in beginning a halftime speech to the fans that ended with “Rock Chalk Jayhawk, go KU.”
Morris averaged 17.2 points and 7.6 rebounds a game in 2010-11 for the Jayhawks, who went 35-3 overall, won the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles and reached the Elite Eight.
“This is a big honor for my family, for the Morris family in general,” Marcus said. “Coming from Philadelphia, I didn’t think this was possible. We continued to work hard,” he added of he and brother Markieff, also a nine-year NBA veteran.
“When I look at my jersey up there … without Kieff this wouldn’t be possible. We accomplished a lot together.”
Marcus Morris’ jersey No. 22 was unfurled in the far southwest corner of the rafters, in between the banners for Sherron Collins (4) and former KU broadcaster Max Falkenstien (60).
Of KU coach Bill Self, Morris joked during his halftime speech: “We never saw eye to eye on nothin.’ What he did for me and my brother was special. He taught us hard work. He was a father figure for us. When I got to the real world, the NBA, we used everything he instilled in us.”
Morris averaged 12.8 points and 6.1 rebounds as a sophomore and 7.4 points and 4.7 rebounds as a freshman. He turned pro after his junior season. He was the No. 14 overall pick by Houston in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Morris has career averages of 12.1 points and 4.7 rebounds a game. He recently was traded from the New York Knicks to Los Angeles Clippers. He’s also played for Houston, Phoenix, Detroit and Boston.
Morris’ brother, Markieff, averaged 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds in 2010-11 for the Jayhawks. Markieff has averaged 11.6 points and 5.4 rebounds while playing for Phoenix, Washington, Oklahoma City and Detroit in his nine-year NBA career.
Markieff said Monday he was proud of his twin brother.
“I was excited,” Markieff Morris said of his feelings when he found out Marcus’ number would be hung in the rafters. “I know if I would have stayed my senior year I would probably have my jersey retired too. Seeing ‘Morris’ in the rafters forever … I’m excited for him.
“We had a lot of great times,” Markieff said of three years in Lawrence.
Asked to pinpoint his brother’s biggest accomplishment at KU, Markieff said: “Probably Big 12 player of the year our junior year. That would probably stick out.”
Marcus credited Self for “being right there with us pushing. He wanted what’s best for us. We’re grateful for that. Now here we are.”
This story was originally published February 17, 2020 at 9:20 PM.
