Former point guard Darius Morris, who played his final NBA season with the Nets, has died, his family said in a statement to TMZ.
He was 33.
No cause of death was given.
“With great sadness we announce the passing of our dearly beloved son, Darius Aaron Morris,” his family said in a statement on Saturday, according to TMZ. “During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”
Born in Los Angeles, Morris was a four-star recruit out of Windward High School before attending Michigan from 2009-11.
He starred for the Wolverines during his sophomore year, getting named an All-Big Ten Third Team member and winning the program’s Bill Buntin Most Valuable Player Award after averaging 15 points and 6.7 assists per game.
Morris led Michigan into the third round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, falling to top-seeded Duke, 73-71, as the guard scored 16 points with six assists in his final college game.
That season, he set a then-school record with 235 assists.
His Michigan coach, John Beilein was “saddened” by the loss of Morris, who was considered a “leader.”
“Saddened to hear about the passing of former Wolverine Darius Morris,” the former Wolverines coach wrote on X. “In 2010-11 Darius was our starting pt gd. He was a leader in that program changing 21 win season that laid the foundation for Michigan’s next decade of success. RIP DMo and condolences to the Morris family.
The Michigan basketball program also honored Morris with its own social media post.
He was taken by his hometown Lakers in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft, as he played two seasons with the franchise.
“We are heartbroken by the passing of Darius Morris,” the Lakers wrote in a post on X.
He later spent time with the 76ers, Clippers and Grizzlies before closing out his career with the Nets during the 2014-15 season.
He averaged 3.3 points and 1.4 assists per contest during his 132-game career.
Morris then had stints in the then-NBA D League before playing in China and France, playing his final pro game during the 2019-20 season.