There have been more than a few narratives that have popped up stemming from what turned out to be an embarrassing end to the season for the Los Angeles Clippers. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George's inability to establish themselves as respected leaders was an issue in the locker room, and that trickled down to the rest of the roster.
Marcus Morris, who himself arrived to LA in February 2020 as part of a trade deal with the New York Knicks, apparently tried to step into a role of a leader for the team. Given the aura of uncertainty within the team, the 31-year-old veteran may have felt a need to become a more vocal member of the squad.
As it turns out, this did not always sit well with Ivica Zubac.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Zubac did not appreciate how Morris became so demanding right away:
“You don’t want to be the guy that just shows up and starts telling people what to do,” one league source said.
According to league sources, center Ivica Zubac and Morris had several heated arguments early in Morris’ tenure, with Zubac essentially saying, “Why are you telling me to change what I’m doing after I’ve been doing it successfully all season?”
Teammates argue all the time, but it seems as if this went a little above and beyond the normal. While Morris may have had good intentions, it seems as if his leadership efforts went over the line at times.
The Clippers just recently signed Morris to a long-term extension, which is a clear indication of how he figures in the team's plans for the future. Whether or not he will be asked to tone down his approach next season, however, is an altogether different matter.
New Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue does have a plan to fix the locker room, so we'll see how it all plays out.
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