The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for a hopefully deep playoff run as the 2024-25 NBA regular season continues. Head coach JJ Redick's squad has proven it can hang with the league's top contenders throughout the year, putting the Lakers in a good position to make some noise once the postseason arrives
Making a deep playoff run requires veteran leadership, though, especially with how grueling a seven-game series can be. The Lakers already boasted some experienced veterans before the season began and the team's leadership levels have only increased after a grizzled forward arrived in L.A.
Lakers News: JJ Redick Praises Markieff Morris' Leadership
During this month's pre-deadline blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic wasn't the only player who the Lakers acquired. Los Angeles also landed Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, and it's been the latter who's caught Redick's attention, according to The Orange County Register's Khobi Price.
"(Morris has) been awesome," Redick said before Saturday's victory over the Denver Nuggets. "It’s very valuable to have a guy like that... An older voice, someone who’s seen it all in the NBA. Someone who’s won a championship."
Lakers value Markieff Morris’ leadership, experience https://t.co/knvUmVLWXJ
— O.C. Register (@ocregister) February 23, 2025
Morris has amassed a ton of experience throughout a 14-year NBA career that's seen him play for eight teams. Lakers fans were first introduced to the former Kansas Jayhawk when he was signed partway through the 2019-20 campaign after being bought out by the Detroit Pistons before the trade deadline.
Morris ended up being an important depth piece throughout his first Lakers stint, which included helping the franchise win the 2020 NBA Finals.
The 35-year-old veteran's performance has declined since then, meaning few fans expected him to make an on-court difference following his return to Los Angeles. Father Time is clearly catching up to him, but just because he only plays a handful of minutes doesn't mean he isn't making his presence felt in-game.
"He’s been great on the bench with talking with guys, making sure our bench energy is good," Redick added. "I told him the other day, we see it and we appreciate it and we all just value what he’s doing right now from that aspect in leadership."
Since being brought back to L.A., Morris is only averaging 3.7 points with 30.0% field-goal and 42.9% three-point percentages while playing just under seven minutes per night. Still, the lackluster production likely won't hurt his outlook if Redick has anything to say about it.
"It’s important that he’s been through it with LeBron (James) and our guys know that," the Lakers coach said. "There’s so many different forms of leadership and we need Kieff’s leadership."
Time will reveal if Morris' off-court leadership is what the Lakers need to win another title. They currently hold the sixth-best 2024-25 NBA Finals odds (+1700) on DraftKings Sportsbook ahead of Tuesday's clash with the Dallas Mavericks.
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