NBA veteran Marcus Morris Sr. has vehemently denied allegations of fraud following his arrest in connection to an unpaid gambling marker, calling the legal fallout “wild” and humiliating.
The 35-year-old forward, who was arrested on Sunday at a South Florida airport, spent more than two days in jail before being released. His arrest stemmed from what authorities described as a bounced check linked to a casino debt in Las Vegas.
Morris Denies Fraud and Explains Gambling Marker Practice
In a series of candid social media posts on Wednesday, Morris explained that he had taken out a gambling marker — a common practice among frequent casino goers — but denied any intent to evade repayment.
He insisted that he never planned to avoid paying the debt, claiming the situation was a misunderstanding, as he simply took longer than expected to repay it.
Morris stressed that no money was ever taken out of the casino into his pocket, a crucial point for those unfamiliar with how gambling markers work. “If you know gambling, you can’t take money out the casino if you got a marker!” Morris wrote. “You spend that money there … no money was exchanged or taken from any casino and into my pocket.”
Humiliating Arrest and Jail Experience
The 13-year NBA veteran, who has a long history with Las Vegas casinos, expressed deep frustration with how the situation was handled, especially given his years of spending money at the same properties. He believed his track record and financial standing should have led to a more straightforward resolution.
Morris described the arrest and subsequent 51-hour jail stint as extremely humiliating, particularly since he had been active on social media and was traveling when he was taken into custody.
“I really thought the amount of money and time I spent there would really have value,” Morris shared, suggesting that he felt his relationship with the casinos warranted a more direct handling of the matter.
He also expressed his anger at the lack of warning or communication before the arrest, which came as he was traveling and not attempting to flee.
Final Words on Vegas: ‘F— Vegas’
Morris made it clear that he felt the entire situation was mishandled. In a pointed and frustrated post, he concluded with a final message to the city of Las Vegas: “My last thing is, F— Vegas. To treat me like that was wild.”
Moving Forward: Lessons Learned
Despite the controversy surrounding his arrest, Morris emphasized that he was moving forward and learning from the experience. He stated that he hoped to use the incident as a teaching moment for younger athletes.
Morris also revealed that he and his twin brother, Los Angeles Lakers forward Markieff Morris, planned to address the situation publicly in the near future.
