🏀 Markieff Morris Vying for NBA Title

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas Jayhawk Markieff Morris is vying to become the 13th Jayhawk to win an NBA title when the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals beginning Sept. 30, in Orlando, Fla.

Morris joined the Lakers in a trade from the Detroit Pistons on Feb. 23, 2020, before making an immediate impact, playing 44 games for Detroit and eight with the Lakers averaging 10.1 points for the season in 52 contests prior to the pandemic. Including the return of play in the NBA bubble, Morris has played in 14 games with the Lakers, averaging 5.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

A Philadelphia native, Morris was the No. 13 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and is in his ninth season in the league. He has played 637 games in that span. Morris played three seasons at Kansas from 2009-11 and was an All-Big 12 Second Team honoree in 2011.

There have been 12 Jayhawks who have won 17 NBA titles during their professional careers with Sasha Kaun being the most recent winning the 2016 title with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Four Jayhawks – Clyde Lovellette, Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush and Kaun – have won both NCAA and NBA titles with the last three playing under Bill Self while at Kansas.

KU legends Wilt Chamberlain (1972), Jo Jo White (1976) and Paul Pierce (2008) were Jayhawks who were also named NBA Finals Most Valuable Players.

*Indicates NBA Finals MVP