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Markieff Morris reveals what Nico Harrison told him when he signed with Dallas Mavericks, he respected it

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Aug 27, 2025 11:00 AM ET

The Dallas Mavericks’ reputation took a major hit on February 01, 2025.

Yes, the same day when general manager Nico Harrison decided to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

A move that no fan saw coming. The Mavericks are still paying the price for essentially breaking the trust of Doncic and the fanbase.

However, before the shocking trade, the Mavs seemingly cared about their players and were honest with them.

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Markieff Morris says Nico Harrison and Jason Kidd were honest about his role

Before ending up on the Lakers during the 2024-25 NBA season, Markieff Morris was a member of the Mavericks since the 2022-23 season.

Morris recently revealed what GM Harrison and head coach Jason Kidd told him about his role on the team.

“One thing about Dallas, with Nico and J-Kidd, they’re always up front. That’s all you want,” Morris said on The OGs podcast.

He added: “Nico said, ‘You’re coming in to be an end-of-the-bench veteran. We’re gonna play sometime, but we ain’t looking at you to play,'”

Morris got what he was promised as he played in just 41 games during his tenure with the Mavs, averaging 2.8 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game.

Markieff Morris goes off on a common misconception about role players

As a veteran in his 30s, many assumed that Kieff’s best days were behind him during his stints with the Mavs and the Lakers.

Evidently, fans believed that he’s no longer able to play on the hardwood. However, Morris burst that bubble with a straightforward answer.

“Sometimes you’ve got to accept that. Fans expect you to play, but sometimes it ain’t about basketball,” Morris stated.

He concluded: “Sometimes you in practice cooking these _____, but to the outside world when you don’t play they think you can’t play. No, they don’t want me to play.”

Morris last played for the Lakers, and there’s no word on if he’ll return to the team as a veteran or hang up his sneakers following a 14-year NBA career.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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