Former Kansas star and current NBA player Markieff Morris talks KU basketball, NIL and Bill Self

Former Kansas men’s basketball standout and current Dallas Mavericks forward Markieff Morris hasn’t worn a Jayhawk uniform in 13 years.

But the 34-year-old still bleeds crimson and blue.

So much so that he calls NBA superstar and former Duke Blue Devil (and current teammate) Kyrie Irving an “honorary Blue Devil.”

Irving, of course, only played 11 games at Duke before being selected No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2011 NBA Draft. That same draft, the Phoenix Suns picked Morris with the No. 13 pick. He, unlike Irving, had played three years of college ball.

It’s something Morris likes to poke fun at Irving about whenever he can.

“You see this guy Kyrie Irving — he didn’t go to Duke,” Morris told The Star. “He just visited Duke. He’s not a Blue Devil.”

Naturally, Irving came by to defend his honor.

“I was the first (to wear) No. 1 in Duke history,” Irving told The Star. “The No. 1 jersey is the most-sold Duke jersey. Who was the first person to wear it? You’re looking at him. I may not have the MJ (Michael Jordan), per se, I may not have the Jayson Tatum legacy who was there for a year, but I created a lot of stuff that’s still standing up. We got Zion (Williamson) and Brandon Ingram to wear the No. 1 jersey.”

Morris responded: “Is Zion a Blue Devil or is he honorary, too? Y’all played 20 total games between the both of y’all. … You played eight.”

Irving responded: “I played 11 games, bro. I don’t know why you always say that I played eight.”

There’s something to learn from that interaction.

Morris is the seasoned veteran who plays less than 10 minutes a game at this point in his career. Still, it’s clear from that interaction alone: He’s a valued locker-room presence, even if he doesn’t play much.

The Star sat down with Morris on Christmas Day to discuss his basketball career, time at KU and what’s next...

Markieff Morris on KU basketball, Bill Self, NIL & more

Kansas coach Bill Self often refers to Markieff Morris and brother Marcus as “the twins.” It’s no secret that the pair were a handful to deal with in college.

Markieff Morris reflects fondly on those days, with a story he’ll never forget about Self’s tough love.

“One day he’s coming to practice and he says (he doesn’t) like that I’m not engaged and he don’t like that I’m smiling after he screams,” Morris said. “He goes, ‘I want you to count every step in (Allen) Fieldhouse. Don’t stop until you (run) over (all of them).’”

Morris says he keeps in steady contact with Self, most recently returning to Lawrence for his brother’s jersey retirement in 2020.

He’s constantly watching the Jayhawks and asking Self what he and his brother can do to help the team. His favorite current player? KU guard Kevin McCullar.

“Kevin — he’s an older guy,” Morris said. “He’s been around. (He) calls me a little bit.”

Currently, McCullar is one of KU’s stars. At the next level, McCullar will likely be a role player — a transition Morris had to make.

Morris’ ability to accept his role is a big reason for such a long NBA career.

“Basketball is a pecking order, right? It will always be a pecking order, so you’ve got to learn the stuff that will help you play right away,” Morris said. “You’re going to come from college and you’re not going to be the star of your NBA team. When you get to the NBA, you’re going to be the 10th, 11th man.

“You got to gravitate to a veteran guy that’s been around and listen. I think that’s the hardest thing for our youth today. They don’t listen. They think everything’s supposed to be given to them and that’s not the way it is. ... The hardest thing for these guys to do is listen, man. Weed out the naysayers, turn off the social media and lock in.”

For Morris, he takes pride in representing Kansas at the next level. But he feels it used to mean more before.

“It’s just a different era,” Morris said. “Especially with the way they are giving out NIL money nowadays.”

Morris certainly wishes NIL existed when he played.

“I’m getting 10 million between me and my brother; we would’ve been raking in money,” Morris said. “ At that time being able to sell your own merch, you know, basically like make money off your name and likeness. I would have been making bank. It’s crazy. It would have been crazy.”

Morris believes that Kansas players in the NBA better understand the game’s fundamentals than players from other schools.

“Once (coach) Cal got to Kentucky, you had to be able to excel at something. Cal was ahead of the game knowing that it was going to be a lot of one-and-dones and a lot of freshmen coming in that’s going to be in and out,” Morris said. “Kansas is a system not made for one-and-dones like that. It’s a system that’s made for team basketball (and) growing. Being able to be raw and then get better.

“Then get better two, three years from now. ... By the time you’re a junior, you have everything you need to play at the next level. Self has always been that way. That’s always been the Kansas way.”

As for what’s next for Morris?

“Two more (playing) years, man,” Morris said. “I got maybe one, maybe two more. It just depends on what every day’s going to be like. ... They don’t make ’em like us (him and his brother) like they used to, but they don’t need to either.”