By Stefan Swiat, Suns.comPosted: Feb. 25, 2012
Suns power forward Markieff Morris may have been the only participant in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge that really wanted to win.
“I’m mad that we lost,” Morris said after the Team Shaq’s loss to Team Chuck.
He went on to say jokingly, “If they would’ve passed me the ball more, I would’ve hit more threes. But that’s how it happens, so we just had fun.”
Morris totaled 12 points and two rebounds on 5-of-7 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 shooting from downtown in Team Shaq’s 146-133 defeat. The Suns rookie was pretty hot, only leaving the game after suffering a minor injury to his thumb.
In fact, his GM, Shaquille O’Neal, was looking for his squad to get Morris the ball. Usually mild-mannered on the floor with the Suns, Morris was even engaging the opposing bench in a little trash talk during Friday night’s contest.
“I told them I was going to hit five threes in a row,” Morris said grinning. “I got hit on my thumb and it didn’t look good so I had to come out of the game. (Shaq) wanted me to go off, but there weren’t enough balls to go around for me so it is what it is.”
After it was all said and done, Morris said that Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio was the player he enjoyed playing with the most. The 6-10 Suns forward said that it reminded him of playing with Suns All-Star Steve Nash, although he’s not “as polished’ as the two-time MVP.
“He’s got dimes for days,” Morris said of the young point guard. “He’s tricky and I enjoyed playing with him. But the passes that he has are crazy.”
Morris was so charged after the game he even made a bold prediction for next year – before ultimately reigning himself in and taking it back.
“Next year I’m going to get MVP,” he said. “No, I take that back. I’m going to do my thing again if I make it.”
Suns fans are already looking forward to it.
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