Marcus Morris Sr. has made headlines over the years for his gritty play and no-nonsense demeanor on the court. But this week, it wasn’t a hard foul or a heated postgame quote landing him in the spotlight; it was a fraud charge.
The former New York Knick and 13-year NBA veteran was arrested Sunday in Broward County, Florida, on a felony charge of “Fraud, Writing a Check with Insufficient Funds,” according to online booking records. The arrest reportedly took place at an airport, with Marcus Morris Sr. being taken in without bond for a charge stemming from another state. Yeah… not exactly the way you want to wrap up your weekend. Social media seems confused about this; however, “Who still takes checks?” asked one fan.
According to the New York Post, details on the alleged incident are still murky. Morris then quickly took to social media to downplay the situation and set the record straight. Or at least tease that the story isn’t as scandalous as it seems.
Marcus Morris Sr. Responds to His Florida Arrest
“The wording is crazy. Damn for that amount of money they’ll embarrass you in the airport with your family,” Morris posted on X (formerly Twitter). “They got y’all really thinking bro did some fraud s–t. They could have come to the crib for all that. When y’all hear the real story on this s–t man. All I can say is Lesson learned. Bro will tell y’all tomorrow. This weird s–t gave me a headache. Can’t stop nothin!”
So, what exactly happened? We don’t know yet, but if you ask Marcus, it sounds more like a misunderstanding than some kind of elaborate scheme. Still, a fraud charge is a fraud charge, and this isn’t Morris’ first brush with the law.
Back in 2012, he entered a diversion program to resolve a battery charge. And in 2015, he was involved in an infamous basketball brawl that led to assault charges. Though he was ultimately found not guilty in that case. Marcus Morris Sr. might be known for his physical style of play, but the off-court drama seems to follow him just as closely.
Morris, who was drafted 14th overall in 2011 by the Houston Rockets, has carved out a lengthy NBA career that spans over a decade. He’s suited up for the Rockets, Suns, Pistons, Celtics, Knicks, Clippers, 76ers, and, most recently, the Cavaliers. Knicks fans may remember his short but productive stint in New York during the 2019-20 season, where he averaged an impressive 19.6 points and 5.4 rebounds across 43 games before being shipped to the Clippers at the trade deadline.
What is Next for Marcus Morris Sr.
He even had a mini-reunion with the Knicks in 2023. He would sign a training camp deal in September, only to be released before the season began. Lately, Morris has also started to dabble in broadcasting. He made an appearance on ESPN’s First Take, which may now have some awkward new material for Stephen A. Smith to unpack.
This arrest may not amount to much in the long run. Especially if Morris’ cryptic posts are to be believed. It’s still a bad look, though. Being arrested at an airport, in front of your family, over an unpaid check doesn’t exactly scream “retirement tour.”
Whether it’s just a small financial slip-up or something more, Morris seems to be taking it in stride. He’s still promising the “real story” will come out soon, and for now, fans will have to wait for the full details. In the meantime, he’s chalking it up to a life lesson. Let’s just hope the next headline we see about Marcus Morris Sr. involves an ESPN mic and not a mugshot.
