New York Knicks: Busting Myths About Jeff Hornacek
5. The Markieff Morris Situation
If you’re unfamiliar with the Phoenix Suns, then the only bit of information that you need to know is as follows. Robert Sarver isn’t a bad man, but he made a mistake that complicated the day-to-day operations below him.
No one paid a bigger price for Sarver’s outspoken nature than former Suns head coach and new New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek.
Markieff Morris broke out under coach Hornacek during the 2013-14 season, and then continued to produce in 2014-15. Off-the-court issues created something of a distraction, however, which Hornacek was attempting to manage in the locker room.
At the height of the issues, Sarver publicly called Morris out by stating that he’s an example of what’s wrong with millennials.
Per Dan Bickley of The Arizona Republic:
"“I’m not sure it’s just the NBA,” Sarver said. “My whole view of the millennial culture is that they have a tough time dealing with setbacks, and Markieff Morris is the perfect example. He had a setback with his brother in the offseason and he can’t seem to recover from it.”"
If How To Destroy A Locker Room: 101 were a course at the University of Phoenix, Sarver’s interview would’ve been featured reading.
Morris and Hornacek’s disagreements weren’t what led to the Suns’ locker room falling apart in 2015-16. Instead, it was a combination of Sarver’s comments, Morris’ off-the-court decisions, and mistakes in the front office.
Following a 2013-14 season during which Phoenix won 48 games and Goran Dragic was named to the All-NBA Third Team, the Suns signed two star-caliber players at Dragic’s position.
With Phoenix sitting four games above .500 at the 2015 All-Star Break, the Suns then traded both Dragic and his backup, Isaiah Thomas, who has since become an All-Star.
Between Sarver’s comments and the front office’s decision making, it’s difficult to place the blame for Phoenix’s dysfunction on Hornacek.
Next: The Myth, Part I