Juwan Morgan is trying to flex his muscles in the NBA Summer League and find a long term home in basketball’s ultimate destination.
More on the literal side of that in a minute.
Morgan signed a summer league contract with the Utah Jazz very soon after the 2019 NBA Draft.
The league’s annual summer competition kicked off in Utah this week, and Morgan appeared in two of the Jazz’s three games in Salt Lake City.
After not appearing in Utah’s first game, Morgan played 14 minutes in game two on Tuesday night.
The Waynesville, Missouri native grabbed five rebounds, including four on the offensive end. You can see one of those offensive rebounds (and an assist) here.
hustle off the miss = assist pic.twitter.com/oHIB6AIUR1
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) July 3, 2019
Nothing appeared unusual about Morgan in that video. But wait for it.
The 6-foot-8 forward didn’t score in his first game. He added that assist and had two turnovers in a Jazz win over Cleveland.
Morgan got a bit more run in his second game on Wednesday night against San Antonio, playing 18 minutes.
He scored his first (and only) point with a free throw. The former Hoosier forward added two assists, two blocks, one rebound, and one steal while playing more on the perimeter than he did at Indiana.
Proving that he can score and defend on the perimeter while continuing to be a strong rebounder and shot blocker appears to be Morgan’s path to the league.
But something was different about Morgan on Wednesday night.
And it didn’t take long for his former teammates to notice.
So you not wearing undershirts anymore? 🤭 @juwanmorgan smh I don’t know you 😂
— Freddie McSwain Jr (@Mcswain_Jr21) July 4, 2019
Morgan had explained to reporters in March that he wore a shirt under his jersey because “I think I’m weirdly built. Like I don’t think I’m fat, but I don’t think I’m like ripped up either. So it’s just comfortable.”
But when he checked into the game on Wednesday, Morgan was donning a new look.
Morgan didn’t seem to thrilled about his apparently new wardrobe requirements in his second game with the Jazz.
It wasn’t by choice just know that…😒 https://t.co/QiNWqemQTd
— JMo (@juwanmorgan) July 4, 2019
And more former teammates piled on.
Ewwww no
— Romeo Langford (@yeahyeah22) July 4, 2019
Morgan and the Jazz will now go on to play at the main summer league event in Las Vegas. Those games run from July 5-15. You can see the full schedule here.
Langford will be there as well, although it isn’t clear that he will be playing as he continues to recover from surgery on his dislocated thumb.
No word yet on whether Morgan’s undershirts will be joining them in Las Vegas.
But his former IU teammates will surely be watching.
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