Kendra Andrews: Nuggets beat the Thunder 121-113. Nikola Jokic finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists. Michael Porter Jr. with a career-high37 points and 12. rebounds. Monte Morris and Paul Millsap add 17 points each.
Monte Morris Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: G
Born: 06/27/95
Height: 6-2 / 1.88
Weight:175 lbs. / 79.4 kg.
Salary: $1,588,231
Born: 06/27/95
Height: 6-2 / 1.88
Weight:175 lbs. / 79.4 kg.
Salary: $1,588,231
Duvalier Johnson: Malone on PJ Dozier and Monte Morris:“The thing that jumps off of the page is his positional size and physicality.” He went on to say that he feels as if Dozier and Monte Morris could’ve done a better job of getting the team in the offense and being coaches on the floor. pic.twitter.com/9GhO0kGADt
Harrison Wind: Source: Keita Bates-Diop has cleared quarantine. He’ll still have to clear physical-type testing before he takes the floor so he won’t play tonight. Also, Monte Morris is at Disney World and currently under the league-mandated 36-48 hour in-room quarantine.
Kendra Andrews: Source: Monte Morris will be on his way to Orlando tomorrow. Keita Bates-Diop arrived today.
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Monte Morris recently spoke with former Iowa State teammate Georges Niang on CampusLore about who he modeled his game after. “The guy that I try to mirror my game after was Chauncey, Chauncey Billups,” Morris said. “He was more of a knockdown shooter, got his guys involved. Wasn’t too flashy, wasn’t too fast, you know like myself. So I just tried to mirror my game like him, and just like Chauncey, he’s always been a winner no matter where he went.”
Monte Morris: “When he was in Denver playing basketball in high school, he won two state championships. Got to college and won and got a chance to get drafted where he did in the first round. So always mirrored my game after Chauncey, and then when he got to the league, his Detroit run was amazing. I’m a Michigan guy so I saw a lot of him beating that Kobe and Shaq team. So yea, Chauncey’s always been a guy that I was learning from before I had known him, but now I know him so I’m still learning from him.”
“When he tweeted that, I definitely had to say something just to let him know, which I know he knows, everybody has his back,” Morris said. “Just let him know that I could have been better. … Just had to let him know don’t put all that stress and everything on your shoulders. You got other guys with you that could have stepped up and made the game easier.” Nuggets head coach Michael Malone agreed with Morris. “I never want one player taking the blame because the reality is, when we win, we win as a team, and when we lose, we lose as a team,” Malone said. “Did Jamal play great against Golden State? No. But he wasn’t the only one. It’s a noble act by Jamal, but more importantly, I think it’s great when a guy says, ‘You know what, I didn’t play my best so I am going to come out and have a better game the next one.’”
“When he tweeted that, I definitely had to say something just to let him know, which I know he knows, everybody has his back,” Morris said. “Just let him know that I could have been better. … Just had to let him know don’t put all that stress and everything on your shoulders. You got other guys with you that could have stepped up and made the game easier.” Nuggets head coach Michael Malone agreed with Morris. “I never want one player taking the blame because the reality is, when we win, we win as a team, and when we lose, we lose as a team,” Malone said. “Did Jamal play great against Golden State? No. But he wasn’t the only one. It’s a noble act by Jamal, but more importantly, I think it’s great when a guy says, ‘You know what, I didn’t play my best so I am going to come out and have a better game the next one.’”
Nick Kosmider: An emotional Monte Morris in his postgame interview with @VicLombardi says it was very difficult for players to play this game today. Said the reaction in the locker room was shock.
But that role has been diminished this season, largely because the Nuggets have been far healthier. During Denver’s first 32 games, Morris averaged just 17.6 minutes, down from the 24 per game he saw last season. Morris has never complained about the reduction in playing time, but a rhythm was hard to find. He began second-guessing himself. “I feel like I’m my biggest opponent,” Morris said. “I can get down on myself if I miss a couple shots. When I make shots, I actually feel good about myself. I feel like I’m my own — I stop myself, you know what I’m saying? Going forward, I’ve just got to come out with the same urgency and same intensity and bring it every night.”
Harrison Wind: Monte Morris in Manila at NBA 3X Philippines on the Nuggets playing on Christmas: “…We displayed our talents enough down in Denver to open people’s eyes and they want to see us play. To be able to do that on Christmas and hopefully get the win, and then go open some presents.”
Harrison Wind: Monte Morris on Mason Plumlee and Torrey Craig attending Team USA Training Camp: “I think it’s phenomenal…. Them bringing that knowledge from USA Training Camp, if they can bring that to our training camp and teach me some more things about the game, that I’m looking forward to.”
1. Denver Nuggets. WAR: 85.1 | Best Under-25 Players: Nikola Jokic (41.0), Jamal Murray (21.2), Monte Morris (10.3). Five NBA teams had an average age (weighted by production) below 25 last season: • Knicks, 17 wins • Suns, 19 wins • Bulls, 22 wins • Kings, 39 wins • Nuggets, 54 wins. Denver’s 2018-19 season was an aberration. Teams that young typically win about 30 games or fewer, but the Nuggets—who earned the no. 2 seed in the West—stand apart from their youthful brethren. Denver’s second-round playoff loss registered as a disappointment in the moment, but for a group of players who had never even reached the playoffs before, last season’s result was bounds better than the preseason expectation.
Before kicking off their weekends, several Denver Nuggets players went through a grueling workout session at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The high altitude (the amphitheatre sits at 6,450 feet above sea level at its peak height) and plethora of steep steps provide the players with a challenging training session. Monte Morris, Will Barton, Jarred Vanderbilt, Michael Porter Jr., Thomas Welsh and Brandon Goodwin participated in the Friday morning workout.
“He (Porter Jr.) is special for sure,” Nuggets guard Monte Morris added. “He can handle it, shoot it and he’s 6’11”. He’s a freak athlete. The best thing about Michael is that he feels he’s the best player on the court at all times, no matter who is out there. He carries that swagger about himself, so I feel it will be easy for him to adjust when he steps into the rotation because with that swagger, you will go out there and play confident.”
Katy Winge: I asked Will Barton about a Most Improved Player award on this team. He said Malik Beasley or Monte Morris. Said Malik’s consistency and confidence grew a ton. Said coming into the season the back-up point guard spot had some questions. “There aren’t any questions now.” pic.twitter.com/3hTI9RgqQu
Katy Winge: Monte Morris said he texted with Murray last night at midnight, reminding him it’s a new day. Morris told Murray to trust himself. Said he’s the #nuggets anchor, he got them this far playing his style. “Being aggressive, having fun, that the Jamal Murray I’m used to seeing.”
Michael Singer: Talked with Monte Morris a bit before celebrity game. He told me Sue Bird asked him to be her lead assistant. Even still, Monte definitely felt he should’ve been in Rising Stars game tonight.
We don’t know for certain if it’s this week. Or the next. But we do know this: The Nuggets (37-18 entering Monday night’s game) aren’t turning the screws on the rest of the Western Conference without big brother Isaiah pushing his younger teammates, be it in the locker room, in practice, or from his seat at the end of the bench. “We probably wouldn’t be this high along in the West if he wasn’t in our locker room,” point guard Monte Morris, one of the franchise’s — and the league’s — great narratives of 2019, said of Thomas. “(He’s) giving us tips on guys he played and just knowing how to pull through. I look up to him a lot, not just because he’s at my position, just what he’s been through and everything. So we’re looking forward to having him back. Everybody knows what he brings to the table, and when you add that on top of what we’re doing right now, we should be really, really good.”
“We probably won’t be this high along in the West if he wasn’t in our locker room,” point guard Monte Morris, one of the franchise’s — and the league’s — great narratives of 2019 said of Thomas. “(He’s) giving us tips on guys he played and just knowing how to pull through. I look up to him a lot, not just because he’s at my position, just what he’s been through and everything. So we’re looking forward to having him back.”
Nuggets coach Michael Malone also went to Flint on Sunday, as did Denver guard Will Barton. Both have seen the love Iowa State fans in arenas across the league have shown for Morris all season. But there was something even deeper in his hometown. “One thing I love about Monte is how loyal he is to where he grew up,” Malone said. “You could see all the people that showed up just hoping to see Monte, talk to him and how much pride they’re taking in Monte’s success at the NBA level, and that’s what you want to see from all your players.”
Harrison Wind: Nuggets will only have two of their regular starters (Barton, Jokic) for tonight’s game vs Pistons. Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, Paul Millsap are all out. I’d expect Monte Morris and Malik Beasley to continue to start while minutes are available for reserve guard Brandon Goodwin.
Chris Dempsey: #Nuggets POBO, Tim Connelly, on his team’s All-Star representation: “So excited for Nikola, but he shouldn’t be our only player in Charlotte. Jamal’s personal & team success made him worthy. And the impact Monte and Torrey have made merited a spot in the Rising Stars Challenge.”
Monte Morris provided an assist to Flint-area families on Sunday afternoon just ahead of the Christmas holiday. A total of 11 families received a $100 Kroger gift card from the 2013 Beecher High graduate and Denver Nuggets point guard, as well as gift bags for families from the Denver Nuggets, and toys from DTLR Villa.
“He’s always a person that’s going to give back. He always has. From when he was little until now,” said Morris’ mother Latonia on Sunday, Dec. 23 at Beecher High School where families received the items. “He was an only child, but he doesn’t have only child syndrome. I was just proud that he did it.”
Nick Kosmider: Michael Malone subtly hinted last night that he might be looking for ways to give banged-up guard Gary Harris a breather. With Harris questionable for tonight’s game with ankle soreness, wouldn’t be surprised if tonight is that night, opening up more minutes for Morris, Beasley.
Mike Singer: Source: Jamal Murray’s small violation was that he was late to shootaround, which is why Monte Morris got the start. Murray will be back in the starting lineup Saturday.
Mike Singer: Source: Jamal Murray’s small violation was that he was late to shootaround, which is why Monte Morris got the start. Murray will be back in the starting lineup Saturday.
Harrison Wind: Big changes in the Nuggets starting lineup. Monte Morris is starting at point guard. Jamal Murray moves to the bench.
Michael Singer: Monte Morris has the best assist/turnover ratio (8/1) in the NBA. Second-best is 6/1. Murray’s ratio is 1.77/1, which ranks 150th, per NBA.com stats.
Harrison Wind: Michael Malone on the Monte Morris/Jamal Murray backcourt, which Denver played 13 minutes against the Lakers: “You’ll probably see more of (Monte) and Jamal on the court together at times because Jamal is just as effective with the ball and without the ball.”
Vixen Amber Rose isn’t letting her NBA bae go anytime soon. The hip-hop model blessed social media this weekend with a coupled up shot of herself and Denver Nuggets star Monté Morris. Muva Rose jumped on Instagram Sunday (August 26) to gush over her stud.
The hard work paid off for Morris, who, after a strong showing in the Summer League, was rewarded with a three-year deal from the Nuggets reportedly worth $4.8 million. The deal, a full NBA contract, assures Morris of a roster spot with Denver and means his day of bouncing between the NBA and Gatorade League may be done. “I was happy for sure — relieved to know that the made way for me,” Morris said. “They traded some guys, drained some money and opened up a spot for me. Now I’ve got to go two times harder … because every year, it’s 60 more people to try and come take your jobs.”
As great as the contract has been for Morris, that’s not the only big thing to happen to him this summer. He’s also made headlines recently off the court for his relationship with actress and model Amber Rose. It’s gotten the attention of news outlets like TMZ, which who have suddenly started writing about Morris. He said he’s not letting the new attention get to him. “I really don’t get caught up into it,” Morris said. “Once it happened, I was like, OK. I wasn’t really fazed about it.”
Harrison Wind: Nuggets point guard Monte Morris is throwing out the first pitch tonight at the Iowa Cubs game. Morris starred at Iowa State for four seasons where he set an NCAA career record with a 4.65 assist-to-turnover ratio before Denver selected him 51st overall in 2017.
Shams Charania: Sources: Nuggets guard Monte Morris has agreed to a three-year, $4.8M deal with the team. First two seasons guaranteed. Denver converts Morris, the No. 51 pick in 2017, from a two-way contract to a standard deal.
Chris Dempsey: Craig’s deal frees up one of the two two-way contracts for the #Nuggets to use this season. Monte Morris is on the other two-way deal.
TJ McBride: Here is the #Nuggets summer league roster that I have been able to confirm so far: Stan Okoyo Kenrich Williams Andre Spight Malik Beasley Monte Morris Thomas Welsh Tyler Lydon Roster is subject to change.
Harrison Wind: Nuggets have transferred two-way player Torrey Craig from Sioux Falls. Denver’s other two-way player Monte Morris is also with the team in LA.
