Ex-Lakers guard Darius Morris died of coronary coronary heart illness

Former Lakers and Clippers guard Darius Morris died at age 33 of coronary artery illness, though the “results of cocaine, hydrocodone and ethanol” have been listed as “different important circumstances,” in accordance with the Los Angeles County Division of Medical Examiner.

Morris, who performed for the Lakers alongside his mentor Kobe Bryant after starring at Windward Excessive in Mar Vista and the College of Michigan, was discovered lifeless in a non-public residence by his mom Could 2.

Three months earlier, his father, Dewayne Morris Sr., and older brother, Dewayne Morris Jr., have been discovered responsible of conspiracy and three counts of financial institution fraud following a jury trial in federal court docket. Dewayne Jr. additionally was discovered responsible of witness tampering.

Sentencing was postponed from June 3 till Aug. 5 in federal district court docket in San Diego for the choose to overview three separate motions requesting a brand new trial filed by Anthony E. Columbo, the lawyer representing Dewayne Morris Jr. Columbo mentioned Tuesday that he’ll file a fourth movement by Friday.

Columbo asserts that exculpatory materials within the authorities’s possession pertaining to a cooperating witness was not shared with the defendants throughout trial. Colombo additionally mentioned that if the movement is denied, he’ll attraction the case following sentencing.

Dewayne Sr., a profession U.S. Postal Service supervisor based mostly in Venice and Marina del Rey, was accused of acquiring hundreds of postal cash orders price as much as $5.1 million and Dewayne Jr. of fraudulently depositing them in financial institution accounts then withdrawing the money.

Columbo mentioned that Darius Morris had “completely no connection or involvement in any way within the case. I discovered him to be nice and a gentleman every time I met with him.”

Darius Morris was remembered for his exuberant persona and radiant smile. He led Windward to a CIF state Division V championship and was named CIF Southern Part participant of the yr in 2009. He scored 13 of his game-high 25 factors within the fourth quarter of the state closing.

He went on to set help information at Michigan earlier than being chosen by the Lakers within the second spherical of the 2011 NBA draft.

Within the 2012-13 season, the Lakers made the playoffs and confronted the San Antonio Spurs regardless of accidents to Bryant (torn Achilles’ tendon) and level guard Steve Nash (damaged leg). Morris got here off the bench within the first two video games and began Video games 3 and 4 after guard Steve Blake was sidelined with a hamstring damage.

Though the Lakers misplaced, Morris had 24 factors and 6 assists in Recreation 3 matched up in opposition to All-Star guard Tony Parker. In Recreation 4 he contributed six assists together with eight factors.

“Darius was a fully tremendous good man, he all the time had a smile,” mentioned Mike Bresnahan, The Instances’ Lakers beat author for 12 years who now could be a Lakers analyst for Spectrum SportsNet.

“What I appreciated was that when he made it to the NBA he determined he was going to get pleasure from each minute of it. He was going to have enjoyable. Darius by no means forgot that a part of it.”