Morrison isn’t just a scorer
ORLANDO, Fla. – The screen was set on the wing, and Adam Morrison curled off with a defender trailing the way a cornerback might a wide receiver.
Without hesitation, Morrison coyly flashed the ball in the air, sending the over-eager defender flying by.
A dribble later and Morrison stroked in the first of what will assuredly be thousands of feathery-soft jump shots in his burgeoning NBA career with the Charlotte Bobcats. As he backpedaled down the court with his long, stringy hair flopping in the air, Morrison knowingly shook his head and crafted a smile under that wispy-thin mustache.
The way he used his brain more than his brawn, the way he giggled at a helpless defender who might as well have been a puppet on a string, one couldn’t help thinking of the immortal Larry Bird despite the fact this was an NBA Summer League game.
Bird, now president of the Indiana Pacers, took in the scene from just a few feet away and had to be impressed. The fact that it looked exactly like something out of Bird’s repertoire, circa 1985, wasn’t by accident.
“He’s the greatest player ever in my mind, and I just liked how he played and how hard he played,” Morrison said of Bird, the player he’s studied for hours while watching old videotapes. “He revolutionized the game as far as coming off screens.
“So, yeah, I’ve tried to emulate him just because I have a similar body type. I’m not the most athletic person on the planet, and neither was he. I’m certainly not him, but we’re both effective at that style.”
While his play often evokes images of Bird, Morrison’s style is infinitely unique. He is somewhat of a free spirit in high-tops, sporting the looks of a bookworm, but the game of a future All-Star.
As he has displayed in this week’s Pepsi Pro Summer League, especially when he scored 25 points in a half Tuesday night against the Chicago Bulls, there is a sophistication to Morrison that goes well beyond another lofty draft pick.
And though he was just the third overall player taken in last month’s draft, New York’s Fifth Avenue has taken notice of his marketing appeal. Companies such as adidas and EA Sports already have inked the soon-to-be 22-year-old small forward to mega-million endorsement deals.
“That stuff is fun, and it’s a part of who I am, but what matters most to me right now is basketball,” said Morrison, who had 24 points Wednesday in Charlotte’s 103-87 victory over Orlando.
Truth be told, basketball is just a part of who Morrison is – an unpredictable, sometimes offbeat person.
Morrison admits he is almost bored with the status quo and is quick to question, even if the byproduct is merely shock value or to stir debate.
“He’s kind of a quirky guy, but that’s probably why we get along so well,” said Orlando Magic rookie J.J. Redick, who became close friends with Morrison after the two were locked in the battle to become college national player of the year this past season. “Adam is a really smart guy. But I think a lot of times he says and does stuff just to get a rise out of people.”
Morrison certainly got a rise out of his former teammates at Gonzaga last season when his opinions about religion differed from those of Bulldogs coach Mark Few.
When Few encouraged his players to attend church, Morrison scribbled on the grease board, “Religion is the opiate of the masses.” He chuckled at the mention of that moment recently, suggesting it was just his way of cutting against the grain.
There is certainly no questioning Morrison’s talent and passion on the court. A night after his jittery 3-of-14 NBA debut, Morrison came back Tuesday determined to wipe out the poor showing. By the time that first half was complete – Morrison had 15 of the Bobcats’ first 21 points, and 25 at the break – even the most seasoned NBA personnel and players were astonished at the performance.
“The kid can really score – everybody knows that,” Charlotte power forward Sean May said. “But he knows how to play the game, too. He’s always in the right spot.”
Watch Morrison toy with defenders, and the first thing you notice is the sophistication to his scoring. With long arms and a long frame, he has no problem getting his shot off against even the most athletic defenders.
But his offensive arsenal features so many other weapons. Whether it’s the deft stutter-step to keep defenders off balance, the timely ball fakes or the surprising explosiveness off the dribble, Morrison can score in many different ways.
He didn’t lead college basketball in scoring (28.1 ppg.) this past season by merely hanging out around the 3-point line.
If it all sounds a little like vintage Bird – the swagger, smarts, guile and the game to back it all up – it’s certainly more than mere coincidence.