New asset experience of Detroit by Monty Williams, Monte Morris is a fulfilled man. Happy to return home, he, the child from Michigan, born in Grand Rapids, who went to high school in Flint and who grew up admiring the Pistons of the great era.
” Growing up, I always dreamed of playing for the Pistons », he assures regarding his relationship with the franchise. ” I used to be at the Boys & Girls club a lot, we got a lot of Pistons gear and I remember when Chauncey [Billups]Well [Wallace]Tayshaun [Prince] and Rip [Hamilton] arrived, it was in 2003 I believe. I was eight years old. I know what it’s like to be a Piston, the pride that comes with it. I used to see matches at the Palace. »
Even before being drafted in 51st position in 2017, Monte Morris dreamed of playing for the Pistons. He finally had to wait six years, and a transfer from the Wizards, to grant this wish. This will allow him, in particular, to get involved off the pitch, in order to give back as much as possible to his State of origin.
” It’s my city. Then I’m a Detroit Piston, so I’m going to do everything I can do to influence young people and the population, those who need it. We will continue to do more, to keep the people together and to shine a light on them. We get a lot of negative publicity, but it’s up to me to achieve things here, to bring back positives, and I’m going to be proud to do all of that. It’ll be easier now that I’m 45 minutes away “, he says about it.
A young veteran ready to help an ambitious group
But Monte Morris was not picked up by Detroit simply to work with the community, but to supervise a young group and make it cross a course, relying on its strengths.
” I arrive in the skin of the veteran and I have the feeling of being able to bring my quality of shooting. I don’t have to carry the ball all the time, but be able to play away from the ball, alongside Cade [Cunningham], like when I played with Jamal Murray in the ‘backcourt’. No matter what situation [les Pistons] want me, I have already known everything. I played like second, third, fourth option… I’m just a basketball player, I don’t really care [de mon statut] “Explains the one who has just celebrated his 28th birthday.
In a sense, and as he hinted, Monte Morris will therefore be able to use his years spent with the Nuggets to help these talented but inexperienced Pistons grow and progress.
” They are young, athletic, they want to learn and win “, he considers about his new teammates. ” I spoke to Monty Williams and Troy Weaver (the GM), they told me they wanted to try to win games. We’re not trying to say we’re rebuilding and that’s why we assembled the squad that way. There are very good young people, Cade [Cunningham] seems to be doing really well and there are others, like [James] Wiseman, [Jalen Duren], [Jaden] Ivey… »
| Monte Morris | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | DEN | 3 | 8 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3.3 |
| 2018-19 | DEN | 82 | 24 | 49.3 | 41.4 | 80.2 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 10.4 |
| 2019-20 | DEN | 73 | 22 | 45.9 | 37.8 | 84.3 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 9.0 |
| 2020-21 | DEN | 47 | 26 | 48.1 | 38.1 | 79.5 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 10.2 |
| 2021-22 | DEN | 75 | 30 | 48.4 | 39.5 | 86.9 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 12.6 |
| 2022-23 | WAS | 62 | 27 | 48.0 | 38.2 | 83.1 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 10.3 |
| Total | 342 | 26 | 48.1 | 39.2 | 83.0 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 10.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
