NBA veteran Marcus Morris is pushing back after being arrested in Florida over the weekend in connection with a felony fraud case tied to bounced checks at two Las Vegas casinos.
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Morris, 35, was taken into custody Sunday by the Broward County Sheriff's Office and held without bond on a warrant issued in Nevada. According to court records, he is accused of writing bad checks totaling $265,000 to the MGM Grand and Wynn Las Vegas earlier this year, including a $115,000 marker issued in May.
The 12-year NBA veteran addressed the charges in a statement posted to Instagram on Wednesday, denying any criminal intent and saying the situation has been "blown out of proportion."
"Yes, I took out a marker to gamble," Morris wrote. "But I never had any intent to avoid paying. I've paid the money back and never thought it would come to this."
Morris, who most recently played for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2023-24 season, said he was jailed for 51 hours without food or water and criticized what he described as heavy-handed treatment. He said he was stunned to be labeled a flight risk given what he called a long and well-established financial relationship with the casinos.
"The word fraud was thrown on my name as if I took something," Morris said. "If I'd known I'd be locked up, I would've paid it on the spot."
The former first-round pick also defended his reputation and finances, pointing out that he has earned more than $100 million in career salary and has "never owed or needed money for anything."
He ended his post with sharp criticism of the Las Vegas properties involved.
"My last thing is F— Vegas," Morris wrote. "To treat me like that was wild. I've gambled on those properties for 10-plus years ... never been in cuffs or part of any fraud stuff in my life, and it's going to stay that way."
Representatives for MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts did not immediately respond to requests for comment. No additional legal proceedings have been publicly scheduled.
Morris, who has played for eight NBA teams and averaged 12.0 points and 4.4 rebounds over his career, remains a free agent. Earlier this year, he made a guest appearance on ESPN's First Take, where his unfiltered commentary generated buzz.
