Darius Morris
A Los Angeles Lakers draft pick whose journey through the NBA and across global courts embodied the resilient spirit of a basketball journeyman.
1991–2024 (age 33)·American basketball player·Birthday: January 3·Millennials
Biography
Darius Morris carved a path that many young athletes dream of but few fully navigate. Hailing from Los Angeles, his selection by the hometown Lakers in the 2011 draft was a storybook beginning. As a tall, pass-first point guard, he brought a steadying presence to the floor during his time with the team. His NBA career, which included stints with the Nets, 76ers, Clippers, and Grizzlies, was defined by adaptability and perseverance, often fighting for a role off the bench. When opportunities in the league grew scarce, Morris didn't retreat; he embraced the global game, taking his talents to competitive leagues in China, Russia, and France. This willingness to play anywhere for the love of the game painted a portrait of a dedicated professional. His untimely passing in 2024 resonated deeply within the basketball community, a reminder of a player whose career was a testament to quiet determination.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Darius was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Darius Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Darius's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2024Died at 33
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
Key Achievements
- Selected 41st overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2011 NBA Draft.
- Played in 132 NBA regular season games across five different franchises.
- Averaged a career-high 6.9 points per game during the 2012-13 season with the Lakers.
- Extended his professional career by playing in top leagues in China, Russia, and France.
Did You Know?
He played college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines under coach John Beilein.
In his NBA debut for the Lakers, he recorded 4 assists in just 6 minutes of play.
He was a high school teammate of NBA player Jrue Holiday at Campbell Hall School in California.
“I'm just trying to be the best version of myself, on and off the court.”
