LeBron James‘ former teammate Markieff Morris never expected a routine team flight to turn into one of the most uncomfortable moments of his career, but a casual card game with Dennis Schroder quickly crossed into dangerous territory.
Speaking on his podcast, Morris detailed how competitive banter escalated into a heated confrontation, offering a rare look at how fragile locker room chemistry can be even among elite professionals.
Morris and Schroder would later share a locker room during the Lakers‘ 2020-21 season, but the incident occurred earlier, while both were on the same team and killing time in the air with a game of Bourré.
What began as harmless trash talk turned personal when Morris questioned a play Schroder made in the card game.
“We’re on the plane, playing Bourré. It’s just card talk,” Morris said. “He made a play and I was like, ‘You could’ve made that better.’ He’s like, ‘Who are you to tell me what play to make?’ I said, ‘Bro, we’re playing cards. I can say whatever I want.'”
According to Morris, the exchange shifted from joking to confrontational when Schroder referenced status and money, a comment Morris interpreted as a challenge rather than playful trash talk.
“He jumped into, ‘I got guys too. I got money too,'” Morris recalled. “I’m like, ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ I told him, ‘Get up right now and let’s handle this.'”
Teammates quickly stepped in to prevent the situation from boiling over, and Morris noted that Russell Westbrook backed his position in the moment.
While the argument never became physical, Morris said it was close enough to leave a lasting impression.
How the tension faded once they became Lakers teammates
Despite the near altercation, Morris said the tension eventually eased when he and Schroder became teammates with the Lakers. Time, shared practices and the demands of a championship focused environment helped reset the relationship.
The story has resurfaced amid renewed attention on Schroder‘s on court temperament. Earlier this season, Schroder received a three game suspension following an altercation involving Luka Doni, prompting Morris to share his perspective on how those situations can escalate if not managed early.
“That would have never happened if somebody like me was on that team,” Morris said during a livestream. “Before it gets anywhere, I’m calming that down.”
Morris also suggested that cultural differences and overseas basketball environments can sometimes shape how players interpret competitiveness and confrontation, though he stopped short of assigning blame. His larger point was about accountability and leadership, especially within veteran heavy locker rooms.
For Morris, the incident underscores how thin the margin can be between intensity and conflict in professional sports. Competitive environments thrive on edge and emotion, but those same traits can quickly spark misunderstandings if unchecked.
As more former players turn to podcasts and digital platforms, stories like this are shedding light on the unseen dynamics that shape team culture.
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