Philly Guys in the NBA (Morris Twins)

 FULL LIST OF PHILLY GUYS IN THE NBA

Marcus Morris Sr. & Markieff Morris - Prep Charter Class of 2007

High School: Marcus - 1,178 Points, 2007 1st Team All Public Division C, 2006 2nd Team Pub C

Markieff - 1,147 Points, 3x 1st Team All Public Division C, 2005 & 2006 HM All-City

Both - 2007 1st Team All-City

NBA: 13th Season each, Back-to-Back 2011 Lottery Picks (Markieff 13th PHX, Marcus 14th HOU), Markieff - 10.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG; Marcus - 12.1 PPG, .377 3P%

What’s more intimidating than a 6’9” 18 year-old committed to Memphis that averages 20 points per game and is a McDonald’s All-American? A 6’10” 18 year-old committed to Memphis that averages 20 points per game, is a McDonald’s All-American, and looks identical to the other guy I just mentioned.

Marcus and Markieff went by first name basis around Philly in 2007. It was never “did you see what the Morris twins did last night?” It was always “goddamn Marcus and Markieff both went for 25 again.” For as often as they were almost always lumped together in newspaper articles, they were much more individualized in conversation amongst fans.

As much as they had in common, including the same face, I think they got named separately because their games were different from one another. This became more evident as they developed under Bill Self at Kansas (opting out of their original Memphis commitment) and has only been further emphasized at the professional level. Marcus has always been more capable playing around the perimeter while Markieff has shown he can shoot the 3 but tends to focus more effort inside the arc. Both of them, though, can take care of whatever dirty work you need done on the hardwood.

In December 2021 Bradly Wanamaker was getting 15 minutes per game for the Pacers meaning that 3 of the 6 players selected to 2007’s Daily News First Team All-City were under NBA contract. Sure, Wanamaker wasn’t consistently rostered and the other 2 Philly NBA hoopers came from the same womb, but that’s still impressive 14 years after the trio graduated high school. 

If you want to know what Philadelphia basketball is all about, watch the Morris twins’ highlights. No nonsense. It took more than a decade but by trading James Harden to the Clippers this November, the Sixers FINALLY brought a Morris back to Philly. Based on his contract situation Marcus could be a piece that Daryl Morey & co. use at the trade deadline but even if his return is short it’s been impactful. Earlier this month Marcus received the key to the city for his work with youths in underserved communities, a notion that was voted unanimously “yes” by city council members.

The last time the Sixers made the NBA Finals was in 2001 when Philly’s own Aaron McKie was starting alongside Bubba Chuck in the backcourt. Maybe all the Sixers need is a hometown boy to bring that juice, that fire, that Philly Dawg that courses through the veins of 1.5 million rabid fanatics.