# Monté Morris
**Monté Morris** (Monte Robert Morris, born 1995) is an American professional basketball point guard from [Grand Rapids, Michigan](https://www.edgepedia.org/grand-rapids-michigan), who played eight NBA seasons after being selected 51st overall by the [Denver Nuggets](https://www.edgepedia.org/denver-nuggets) in the 2017 draft and is best known for ball security, holding the [NCAA Division I](https://www.edgepedia.org/ncaa-division-i) career record for assist-to-turnover ratio.[1](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/mont%C3%A9-morris) • [2](https://cyclones.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/monte-morris/8159)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1995, Grand Rapids, Michigan[1](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/mont%C3%A9-morris) |
| Size | 6'2" (1.88 m), 183 lb (83 kg)[1](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/mont%C3%A9-morris) |
| Draft | 2017, second round, 51st pick, Denver Nuggets[1](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/mont%C3%A9-morris) • [2](https://cyclones.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/monte-morris/8159) |
| College record | NCAA career record 4.65 assist-to-turnover ratio; 768 assists and 225 steals, both Iowa State records[2](https://cyclones.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/monte-morris/8159) |
| NBA career | 10.0 points on 47.7% shooting, 3.8 assists and 0.8 turnovers per game in 375 games (166 starts) through seven seasons[3](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/monte-morris/bio) |
| Ball security | Ninth-lowest turnover percentage in the NBA since 2017 (8.0%) among players with at least 300 games[3](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/monte-morris/bio) |
| Recent status | Signed by the Indiana Pacers in September 2025 and waived on November 20, 2025; listed as an unrestricted free agent[1](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/mont%C3%A9-morris) • [4](https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Monte-Morris/Summary/56883) |
## High school and college
Morris earned the title of Michigan Mr. Basketball for 2013 while playing at Flint Beecher High School, where he guided the squad to consecutive Class C state championships, an overall mark of 55-1 across two seasons, and a Parade All-American nod.[3](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/monte-morris/bio)
At Iowa State he became the most ball-efficient distributor in college basketball history. He led the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio in each of his four seasons, with marks of 4.79 as a freshman, 4.63 as a sophomore, and an NCAA single-season record 5.17 as a senior, when he also became the eighth player in Division I history to lead the nation in a statistical category three different seasons.[2](https://cyclones.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/monte-morris/8159) His career ratio of 4.65 is the NCAA record.[2](https://cyclones.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/monte-morris/8159)
**Durability and team success** accompanied the efficiency. Morris never missed a game for Iowa State, playing 140 games and starting a school-record 121 consecutively, and finished as the winningest player in school history with 100 victories.[5](https://www.draftexpress.com/amp/article/monte-morris-nba-draft-scouting-report-and-video-analysis-5897/) • [2](https://cyclones.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/monte-morris/8159) As a senior he averaged 16.4 points and 6.2 assists, earned unanimous All-Big 12 First Team honors, and won Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player while leading the Cyclones to their third title in his four years.[2](https://cyclones.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/monte-morris/8159) He left with school records for career assists (768), steals (225), and games played (140), and 1,708 career points.[2](https://cyclones.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/monte-morris/8159)
## NBA career
The Nuggets selected Morris with the 51st pick in 2017, well below pre-draft projections of the mid-40s, and he developed into their backup point guard behind [Jamal Murray](https://www.edgepedia.org/jamal-murray).[1](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/mont%C3%A9-morris) • [6](https://amp.barstoolsports.com/blog/761498/nba-draft-scouting-report-monte-morris-strengths-weaknesses-and-comparison) In Denver he shot a career-best 41.4% from three-point range in 2018-19 and posted a career-high 24-point game at Sacramento on December 29, 2020.[3](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/monte-morris/bio) In the 2021 playoffs he started a game at point guard for the injured Murray, finishing with six assists and zero turnovers in 23 minutes against Portland.[7](https://www.si.com/nba/2021/06/09/monte-morris-nuggets-nba-playoffs)
**Moves followed.** In June 2022 Denver traded Morris and [Will Barton](https://www.edgepedia.org/will-barton) to the [Washington Wizards](https://www.edgepedia.org/washington-wizards).[8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTVuYNrEnwU) After the 2023 trade deadline he moved from Detroit to Minnesota, and in 27 games as a Timberwolves he recorded 61 assists against just five turnovers while averaging 5.1 points in 15.1 minutes.[3](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/monte-morris/bio) He later had a stint with Phoenix in which, per a season review, he showed flashes of value but never found a consistent role.[9](https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2025/5/4/24419610/phoenix-suns-monte-morris-season-review-future-free-agency-roster-moves-2025)
A calf injury delayed his debut; he appeared in five games in November 2025, and the Pacers waived him on November 20, 2025.[1](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/mont%C3%A9-morris) RealGM lists his current status as unrestricted free agent.[4](https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Monte-Morris/Summary/56883)
## Playing style
Morris's defining trait is turnover avoidance at real usage. Through seven NBA seasons he averaged 0.8 turnovers per game, the third-fewest among point guards with 250 or more games since 2017-18, behind only [Ryan Arcidiacono](https://www.edgepedia.org/ryan-arcidiacono) and [Jevon Carter](https://www.edgepedia.org/jevon-carter), and he recorded 129 games with 5 or more assists and zero turnovers.[3](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/monte-morris/bio) Scouting reports before the draft identified his pick-and-roll passing, varied delivery, and feel as his core strengths, while flagging a light 175-pound frame and on-ball defense as weaknesses.[6](https://amp.barstoolsports.com/blog/761498/nba-draft-scouting-report-monte-morris-strengths-weaknesses-and-comparison) • [5](https://www.draftexpress.com/amp/article/monte-morris-nba-draft-scouting-report-and-video-analysis-5897/) He has shot above 37% from three-point range in each of his six NBA seasons through 2023-24.[3](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/monte-morris/bio) [Nikola Jokić](https://www.edgepedia.org/nikola-jokic) described him during their Denver years as "a true point guard."
## References
1. [Monte Morris, Guard, NBA.com player page](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/mont%C3%A9-morris)
2. [Monte Morris, Iowa State Athletics roster and bio](https://cyclones.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/monte-morris/8159)
3. [Monte Morris player bio, NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/player/1628420/monte-morris/bio)
4. [Monte Morris Player Profile, RealGM](https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Monte-Morris/Summary/56883)
5. [DraftExpress: Monte Morris NBA Draft Scouting Report](https://www.draftexpress.com/amp/article/monte-morris-nba-draft-scouting-report-and-video-analysis-5897/)
6. [NBA Draft Scouting Report: Monte Morris, Barstool Sports](https://amp.barstoolsports.com/blog/761498/nba-draft-scouting-report-monte-morris-strengths-weaknesses-and-comparison)
7. [Monte Morris Is the Nuggets' Unsung Hero, Sports Illustrated](https://www.si.com/nba/2021/06/09/monte-morris-nuggets-nba-playoffs)
8. [Nuggets Trade Will Barton, Monte Morris To Wizards, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTVuYNrEnwU)
9. [2025 Suns Player Review: Monte Morris, Bright Side of the Sun](https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2025/5/4/24419610/phoenix-suns-monte-morris-season-review-future-free-agency-roster-moves-2025)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Basketball and court team sports › Basketball players and coaches (biographies) › Current NBA players › Point guards*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license