Marcin Gortat: Markieff Morris and I are ‘Phoenix Outlaws’
Feb 11, 2017, 12:30 PM | Updated: 10:07 pm
Phoenix Suns' Marcin Gortat, of Poland, slaps Markieff Morris on the chest after Morris was ejected against the Oklahoma Thunder during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
Marcin Gortat has a new nickname for his tandem with Markieff Morris.
The pair of Washington Wizards were teammates with the Phoenix Suns from 2011-13, Morris’ first two seasons in the NBA. After the Wizards beat the Indiana Pacers 112-107 on Friday, The Washington Post reported that Gortat had announced a new slogan to CSN’s Chris Miller.
From The Washington Post:
“We are the Phoenix Outlaws right now,” said Gortat, using his tried-and-true formula of heritage/city + noun = moniker. “We are the Phoenix Outlaws, me and Keef.”
.@MGortat just called himself and @Keefmorris the Phoenix Outlaws! Nicely done.@WashWizards beat @Pacers 112-107.@CSNMA #dcfamily pic.twitter.com/zHl1h4Se11
— Steve Buckhantz (@SteveBuckhantz) February 11, 2017
The Suns traded Gortat in 2013 as the center’s contract neared its end, while Morris was rather unceremoniously shipped out of town amid controversy last season.
Gortat later seemed to imply that the Suns’ displeasure with Morris wasn’t warranted.
“I see a guy with incredible talent, with very good work ethic,” he said. “He’s a great, great teammate. A guy who has been called one time a cancer, a team cancer. And I would love to have a team cancer like that any day in a game with me. He came here and he’s taking us to the playoffs right now.”
Morris, too, didn’t seem to be fond of the Suns.
“Yeah, he said it about three times but I ain’t rolling with it,” Morris said. “I don’t want to give Phoenix no credit. I’ll figure out a better nickname than that.”
Morris is averaging 14.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 32.1 minutes per game with the Wizards this year. Gortat, meanwhile, is averaging 11.9 points, 11.6 rebounds and 34.7 minutes per game.
