Adam Morrison has taken the first step in his latest NBA comeback.
The former college standout and third overall pick out of Gonzaga in the 2006 NBA draft has spent the last few seasons playing in Europe since being cut by the Washington Wizards in the beginning of the 2010-2011 season.
During his rookie season, Morrison averaged almost 12 points per game and was named to the All-Rookie Second Team. Unfortunately, a torn ACL caused him to miss what should have been his entire sophomore season.
After spending just half of the 2008-2009 season with Charlotte, Morrison was traded to the LA Lakers, along with Shannon Brown, for Vladimir Radmanovic. Morrison ended up winning two titles with LA in 2009 and 2010, although he received little playing time, in part because he made little progress on the defensive side of the ball. He was released following the 2010 campaign.
Morrison later signed with the Washington Wizards, but was waived at the end of training camp.
According to Brooklyn Nets GM Billy King, Morrison has been impressive in the limited workouts he has witnessed. In an interview with the New York Post, King had this to say about Morrison:
“He knows how to play. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a point guard who could find him because he came off screens open,” Nets general manager Billy King said. “But he knows how to set himself up, come off screens. He didn’t make some shots early, but he got them to go. One thing, we know he can do that. It doesn’t always happen right away. …Sometimes it just takes the right situation, the right coach giving them the confidence level.”
Morrison knows he has a long way to go before he is seeing steady minutes in the NBA again.
“I understand I’m never going to shake being a bust or being a failure in some people’s eyes,” said Morrison. “I’ve experienced a lot of highs in basketball, so I guess you could call it a hardship, but it’s really not. I get to play basketball for money. That’s pretty good.”
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