Former NBA guard Darius Morris has died at just 33 years old.
A cause of death has not been made public, but it’s understood his body was found in Los Angeles on Thursday.
The former LA Lakers player’s family provided a statement to TMZ, confirming his sad passing.
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“(It is) with great sadness we announce the passing of our dearly beloved son, Darius Aaron Morris,” they said.
“During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”
Morris was drafted to the Lakers with a second-round pick in 2011, becoming a teammate of the late great Kobe Bryant for the first two years of his career before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.
He also had stints with the Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets for a total of 132 games at the top level, where he averaged 3.3 points, one rebound and 1.4 assists per game.
Following his four-year career in the NBA, Morris spent time playing for teams in France, China, Russia and the NBA G League.
The talented guard last played professional basketball in 2020.
The Lakers posted a tribute to their former player on Sunday morning.
“We are heartbroken by the passing of Darius Morris,” they said in a post.
The college from which he was drafted to the NBA, the University of Michigan, also shared its heartbreak.
“The Michigan basketball community mourns the passing of Darius Morris,” it said.
