National Basketball Association

Detroit Pistons' Marcus Morris ready to take leadership role

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Detroit Pistons’ small forward Marcus Morris says he is ready to take a leadership role as one of the older players on the roster at 27.

Detroit Pistons’ head coach Stan Van Gundy asked Marcus Morris to take a step forward this season, not just in play, but also as a mentor to the younger players on the roster.

Coming off of his best NBA season to date, Morris says he’s ready for the challenge.

Via Detroit Free Press:

As a five-year NBA veteran and the fourth-oldest player on the 18-man training camp roster, Morris has been asked by Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy to take on a leadership role. The 27-year-old considers it a natural progression and said it was something that he would have expected of himself anyway.

“I have to; it’s not really a choice,” Morris told the Free Press last week. “It’s something that I have to fill. Coach sat me down and told me that’s what I need to do, so it’s not even a question. That’s what I’m going to do. That’s what I have to do and that’s what I need to do for the team to be better.”

The Pistons will have a lot of leaders on the team this season. Reggie Jackson is a natural fit as the team’s starting point guard, and Andre Drummond will be a leader as the undisputed best player on the team.

Morris makes a lot of sense as the third leader.

Not only is he one of the more seasoned players on the team, but he’s also one of the most valuable with his position versatility, strong character, and ability.

I didn’t like adding Morris to the roster last offseason, mostly because of the felony charge he had pending and his perceived bad reputation.

But with Detroit, Morris has been a class act and really changed my mind.

I like that Van Gundy encouraged Morris to be a bigger part of the team. His play for the Pistons, and conduct on and off the court has been exactly what the Pistons’ needed.