The body of Darius Morris, a four-year NBA veteran and former star basketball player for the University of Michigan, was discovered in the Los Angeles region on May 2. Morris, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, was an NBA player from 2011 to 2015 for the Lakers, Nets, 76ers, Clippers, and Grizzlies.
The family reportedly alerted TMZ in a statement they sent out on May 4 that Morris had passed away and asked for privacy after the news. Darius Aaron Morris was our loving son, and we are heartbroken to say that he has passed away. Please honor his family’s requests for space and dignity as they go through this difficult period.
From the official Twitter/X account of the Los Angeles Lakers to beat journalists who followed Morris during his high school basketball career, there has been an outpouring of touching words on social media following Morris’s death, although facts surrounding his passing are few.
After Morris’s time in the NBA ended, he played for a number of clubs in China, Russia, and France. In 2019, he made a brief return, competing in the San Antonio Spurs Summer League to attract interest from NBA teams. Even though it was his second opportunity in the league, Morris appeared grateful for it at the moment.
He said, “You definitely do be having those doubts, especially as you get a little bit older and things don’t happen overnight. I’m human, so I definitely get those thoughts. That’s when I let my faith in God take over. The fact that teams keep calling lets you know that you’re still on their radar. When they stop calling, that’s when I’ll start thinking maybe it’s over. It’s just trying to find the right fit and staying in front of them. A lot of stuff is just about timing. Since I’ve been out, I’ve been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now it’s about being in the right place at the right time.”