After earning a Flagrant 2 foul and an ejection from Monday’s preseason game against Washington, Knicks forward Marcus Morris won’t face a suspension to open the regular season, reports Marc Berman of The New York Post.
Early in the third quarter of Monday’s exhibition contest vs. the Wizards, Morris was being guarded by Justin Anderson and aggressively swung his arms in an attempt to clear space, nearly hitting Anderson with an elbow. When the Wizards swingman didn’t back off, Morris intentionally struck him in the head with the ball, resulting in his ejection (video link via Bleacher Report).
Morris claimed he was provoked by something Anderson said, but acknowledged after the game that his play was “unprofessional.”
As Berman notes, the NBA automatically reviews all Flagrant 2 fouls to see if they warrant a suspension. If the league had issued a ban for Morris, he would have had to serve it to start the regular season, rather than in the preseason.
Morris, who signed a one-year, $15MM contract with New York this summer, completed that deal after reneging on an agreement to sign a two-year contract with the Spurs. The Knicks will open the season on October 23 in San Antonio, so while Morris will still be able to play in that game, he probably shouldn’t expect a warm welcome.
I wouldn’t really say that he earned it
It will be fun to watch the Spurs fans booing him in the opener.
There’s that word again.
What a knucklehead!!! Can’t understand how this dude (& his twin) is still in the league, so unprofessional & not that good really… worst of all still gets $15MM!?!?! Hardly deserves the vets minimum.
He’s good. His twin? Not so much.
The Knicks are just warming up.
He Played well enough last year to earn his 15 mill. The Celtics would love to have him back!