Lakers Rumors

Report: Markieff Morris Lifted Weights and Did Push-Ups Immediately After Facing Zion Williamson

Published by
Robert Marvi

Markieff Morris, the Los Angeles Lakers’ newest addition, appears to have a good amount of desire and work ethic.

He had a good showing offensively in their win over the New Orleans Pelicans, but gave up 35 points to Zion Williamson.

Afterward, Morris immediately went back to work, according to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times.

“Markieff Morris had just gone head-to-head a few times with the 6-foot-7 and 285-pound Zion Williamson, and the Lakers forward didn’t like how he responded,” wrote Turner.

“So when the Lakers’ 122-114 win was over Sunday night, Morris worked out in the hallway outside the locker room with the team’s training staff. He lifted weights and did push-ups, all with the intent of getting his body ready for the brute force of Williamson or any other powerful player he might face.”

On a team that’s been accused of being soft, the toughness and resolve of a player like Morris is much appreciated.

“That mentally helped me because Zion put me on my [butt] about three times, and I wasn’t feeling that,” Morris said of his postgame workout. “I wasn’t feeling that, so I had to get a lift in to prepare for this upcoming stretch. It was all because of that. I don’t play that [mess]. I got to work.”

Morris scored 10 points in less than 15 minutes of playing time on Sunday, hitting 4-of-8 shots and 2-of-4 from 3-point range.

In just four games with the Purple and Gold, it appears he will infuse this team with consistent 3-point shooting and an inside scoring option moving forward.

But his ability to physically match up with big forwards like Williamson may ultimately be the most valuable attribute he brings to the team.

Morris picked an opportune time to sign with the Lakers. They are about to embark on a tough stretch of games where they will face several superstar wings.

They will play Giannis Antentokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, then battle Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

Robert Marvi

Robert is a native of Santa Monica, Calif., and a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has been an avid NBA fan since he was a little kid in the mid '90s and fell in love with the Nick Van Exel-led Lakers teams. He truly cherishes the Kobe Bryant-era of Lakers basketball and the five world championships that came with it, and is looking forward to the team's next NBA title.

Published by
Robert Marvi

Recent Posts

Ex-Lakers guard tells Julius Randle to ‘pass the damn ball’ following ugly sequence involving Rudy Gobert

In the fourth quarter of the Minnesota Timberwolves' loss to the Toronto Raptors on Thursday,…

November 22, 2024

5-time NBA champion says ‘no real fans care’ about Lakers’ success in NBA Cup

The Los Angeles Lakers have started their NBA Cup schedule off on the right foot…

November 21, 2024

LeBron makes stunning announcement as he takes step back on social media

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James uploaded a screenshot of a social media post on…

November 20, 2024

Private message revealed that Austin Reaves sent Dalton Knecht before they knew they’d be teammates

Los Angeles Lakers players Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht were familiar with one another before…

November 20, 2024

Iman Shumpert says LeBron ruined today’s game by forming superteams

The proliferation of superteams in the NBA arguably became normalized once LeBron James teamed up…

November 19, 2024

Shaq says he’ll fight Dwight Howard under certain conditions

Dwight Howard has a compelling case to one day be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial…

November 18, 2024