Marcus Morris, formerly of the Boston Celtics, fouls Robin Lopez.
Former Boston Celtics forward Marcus Morris Sr. was denied bail following his initial court appearance in Florida after his arrest on July 27 for felony fraud.
Morris Sr. is facing legal challenges due to allegations of swindling $265,000 from two land-based casinos in Las Vegas, as reported by TMZ.
According to court files obtained by TMZ, the NBA player purportedly secured $115,000 from the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino through bounced checks in May 2024, without repaying the amount.
In a similar incident in June 2024, Morris Sr. allegedly received $150,000 from the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, utilizing checks he was aware would not be honored, according to the same report.
The former Celtics player will remain in custody until his extradition to Las Vegas, with another court hearing scheduled for August. The judge denied Morris Sr.’s attorneys’ request for bail, stating that he could only be released to Nevada authorities or if the arrest warrants were revoked.
Morris Sr. has an estimated net worth of $21 million in 2025, as noted by realitytea.com. Over his 13-season NBA career, he amassed over $106 million in salaries, according to Spotrac.
‘Lesson Learned’ The Hard Way
Markieff Morris, his twin brother, attended the court session and criticized the way the “fraud” was depicted in the media. He expressed his frustration on X, stating, “The wording is absurd. Being targeted like this for such a sum is embarrassing.” He further suggested that the true story would reveal much more.
The twins’ business manager, Yony Noy, defended Marcus by stating that the allegations stemmed from an unpaid casino marker rather than any fraudulent behavior. He clarified that if gambling debts exceed $1,200, a warrant may be issued for arrest.
According to legal experts, a casino marker acts similarly to a temporary loan. Patrons commit to repaying it within a set period, usually 30 days. Failure to pay allows the casino to convert it into a check, and insufficient funds can lead to criminal charges.
Marcus Morris Sr. played for the Celtics for two seasons, averaging 13.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He arrived via a trade from Detroit in 2017, contributing significantly to the team’s 2017-18 Eastern Conference Finals appearance with valuable points and rebounds.
Alongside his time with the Celtics, Morris has played for multiple teams, including the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Clippers. After retiring, he has also made guest appearances on ESPN’s morning shows “Get Up” and “First Take” in recent months.
Alder Almo is a seasoned sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, bringing over 15 years of experience in both local and international media.
