NBA

Morning sports update: Marcus Morris responded to Gregg Popovich saying Spurs were ‘blindsided’

"I feel bad that it had to happen that way."

Celtics Pacers Basketball
Former Celtics forward Marcus Morris signed with the Knicks in the offseason. Michael Conroy/AP Photo

By Hayden Bird

3 minutes to read

The Bruins opened the new season with a 2-1 over the Stars in Dallas on Thursday night. Brett Ritchie, in the first shift of his first game with the Bruins, scored against his old team.

Coming up this weekend, Boston College football is back in action at Louisville on Saturday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. Also, the Bruins face the Coyotes in Arizona on Saturday night at 9 p.m.

On Sunday, the Patriots play Washington at 1 p.m., while the Revolution finish the regular season in Atlanta at 4 p.m.

Marcus Morris responded to Gregg Popovich’s comments: In the NBA offseason, Marcus Morris entered free agency open to the idea of returning to the Celtics (where he had played for the previous two years). Ultimately, Morris decided to sign elsewhere, though the move wasn’t without drama.

Advertisement:

Originally, it appeared Morris would sign in San Antonio to play for Gregg Popovich and the Spurs. However, in a late breaking move, Morris reevaluated his situation and opted to sign a one-year deal with the Knicks worth $15 million.

The late switch in destination left the Spurs in a bind, as the team traded Davis Bertans to Washington to help create the cap space needed to sign Morris. Popovich, who was recently asked about Morris, gave some unsparing thoughts.

“Let’s just say that was an unfortunate situation that was handled unprofessionally on a couple of different levels,” said Popovich, adding that the Spurs were “blindsided” by Morris’s decision to back out and sign with the Knicks.

Advertisement:

Morris was asked about the comments on Thursday.

“I was very surprised but I have nothing but respect for Pop,” Morris told reporters after practice. “Obviously, they made a big move and on my side things weren’t clear for me so I made a decision based on what I knew and for my family. I hope nothing but the best going forward this season. I’m in New York now. I’m just ready to get started.”

Morris said he was “sorry” for how things went with the Spurs:

He was asked if he felt badly about the ramifications for the Spurs.

“At the end of the day, yeah,” said Morris, “because they made a move and they had a great young player and I feel bad that it had to happen that way.”

Trivia: The last game that the Patriots lost in 2003 before embarking on an NFL record 21-game winning streak was against Washington in Week 4. Who coached Washington to a 20-17 win over New England on Sept. 28, 2003?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: He most recently coached an Alliance of American Football team to a 7-1 record before the league folded.

More from Boston.com:

Jamie Collins doesn’t want to talk, he just wants to play

Advertisement:

: No Patriots player has typified the defensive dominance this season like Collins. The 29-year-old linebacker has experienced an entirely unexpected renaissance in his second time through New England. His story is a complicated one, and offers insight into why he lets his play do most of the talking. [Patriots Wire]

George W. Bush made an appearance in the Bruins’ locker room:

Tom Brady relived a past moment of glory “blocking” for LeGarrette Blount: The 42-year-old quarterback posted a video on Tik Tok in which he belated decided to lead block for Blount as the running back reversed fields. The video was played to the soundtrack of Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again.”

Video proof that Tacko Fall can hit a three:

On this day: A year ago, Tom Brady threw his 500th career touchdown pass with a big assist from Josh Gordon.

Daily highlight: Tyler Lockett earned this touchdown, from start to finish (especially the finish).

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3LWQAMJ30h/

Trivia answer: Steve Spurrier