Washington Wizards head coach Scott Brooks was not pleased with forward Markieff Morris' ejection from Monday's preseason game against the New York Knicks, as the veteran frontcourt starter was irked by rookie Mitchell Robinson's trash talk which led to his second technical foul and consequent ejection. Yet Morris feels Robinson “crossed the line” with his trash talk.
“Me and coach talked about it and I respect that… I’m supposed to be the bigger person, but what [Robinson] said crossed the line as a man and I wasn’t feeling it,” Morris said after a 124-121 loss on Monday, according to Candace Buckner of The Washington Post. “Regardless of the situation I was wrong for approaching, but it happens like that sometimes.”
It is still unknown what Robinson said that sparker Morris' ire, but this is far from the only thing that would spark the Philly native's strong reaction.
‘Kieff was tied with Russell Westbrook for the fifth-most technical fouls last season with 13, including two ejections — making his two techs and ejection more than just a mere coincidence.
Brooks had wanted the team to go on a different direction this season: less talk, and more work — but that quickly went out the window with some words by the Knicks rookie.
“It’s not good. It’s not a good look,” Brooks said after the game. “You have five players out there competing, both teams, and you have three referees competing themselves. We have to make sure that we can control our emotions.”
Brooks and the rest of the coaching staff will likely work on tempering Morris' emotions, as it is something that has become contagious in the locker room, as young Kelly Oubre Jr. had 10 of his own last season as well.
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