When you think of leadership in Los Angeles, the name that immediately comes to mind is LeBron James. Four-time MVP. Champion. The voice in the huddle. The face of the franchise. But in a season where the Lakers are battling injuries, rotation tweaks, and playoff positioning, leadership has taken a new form—one that’s quieter, sharper, and coming from a player who rarely takes the floor.
Markieff Morris doesn’t light up the box score. He doesn’t need to. While LeBron is the headline, Morris is the footnote that holds the story together. As the Lakers search for consistency, it’s Morris who’s setting the tone in the locker room—especially for the guys who need it most: the rookies.
“Markieff Morris is a great vet who teaches me so much about just learning how to be, do your role, and help guys win games,” said rookie center Trey Jemison, whose development this season has been one of the quiet success stories in L.A.
Jemison isn’t just dropping casual praise. He’s describing a mentor. “He don’t sugarcoat nothing,” Jemison added. “He’ll tell you exactly what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. That helps the most. Just giving me like words of wisdom… keeping me mentally grounded, encouraging me, speaking life into me.”
For a young player unsure of his playoff fate—Jemison is currently on a two-way contract with eligibility concerns—it’s that kind of locker room guidance that can shape a career. And Morris is the one delivering it.
Mar 29, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
This adds to the uncertainty. While he’s brought hustle and rim protection in the minutes he’s been given, he remains ineligible for the playoffs unless his deal is converted. Jemison himself acknowledged the situation in a recent interview, saying, “Just to learn, man. The biggest thing about being in the NBA is learning how to stay in the NBA.”
His words reflect both the opportunity and the tension of his position—a player giving everything, but still waiting for the call that could change his postseason fate. So, what will the Lakers do?
The Lakers’ Frontcourt Puzzle Isn’t Solved Yet
With the playoffs looming, the Lakers have more than just game plans to finalize—they’ve got roster decisions to make. The center spot remains a point of concern, with Christian Koloko and Jemison both vying for what could be the final playoff-eligible slot. While Jemison’s hustle has earned him playing time—he’s averaged 2.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 10.3 minutes over 38 games this season—his future remains unclear.
Koloko brings length and timing. He’s the more traditional shot-blocker, averaging 2.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 8.9 minutes over 36 games this season, with a field goal percentage of 61.3% and a free throw percentage of 83.3%. But chemistry, rhythm, and locker room trust? Jemison might already have the edge.
The numbers aren’t eye-popping, but the impact is there. Jemison brings effort, energy, and a willingness to do the gritty work. As the Lakers weigh his conversion, it’s not just stats they’re looking at. It’s fit. Readiness. Influence. And Jemison, molded in part by Morris’s mentorship, is checking those intangible boxes.
It’s not just Jemison benefiting from Morris’s wisdom. Austin Reaves has spoken about tactical pick-and-roll advice he’s gotten mid-game from the vet. JJ Redick praised Morris for being the emotional “anchor” of the bench unit. Even LeBron has nodded to his value. “He’s someone whose opinion I value very much when I come off the floor,” James said.
Jan 8, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Markieff Morris (88) moves to the basket against Chicago Bulls forward Thaddeus Young (21) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Therefore, Morris is that rare figure who can speak to a rookie and a legend in the same breath—and be heard. This matters because the Lakers are trying to balance now with next. LeBron is still elite, Luka is ascending, but the supporting cast—Reaves, Jemison, Max Christie—is where the championship margin lies. And Morris, from his seat on the bench, is shaping that foundation.
So, will the Lakers elevate Trey Jemison in time for the playoffs? Will they choose Koloko instead? It’s a basketball question, yes—but it’s also a culture one. It further raises a deeper question about the team’s internal dynamic: Has LeBron outsourced leadership?
At 40, James remains a generational player. But over the course of this season, it’s become clear that emotional leadership—especially in the day-to-day trenches—has increasingly fallen to others.
“[LeBron] needs help, too. Everybody just think he knows everything,” Morris said. “Yeah, he knows the game a lot, but for him, he can use a guy that’s, ‘Yo, did you see that right there? You can do this.’ Yeah, and that’s me. I can say, ‘Look. Bron, get your ass back. Look, you got to run back too.’”
Therefore, it’s a subtle passing of the torch—not in gameplay, but in guidance. And for a team entering playoff fire, that shift could be defining.
However, the main concern right now is: Do you reward the young guy grinding in the background, earning the trust of the locker room? Or do you go with rim protection and length in Koloko? The answer could define the tone the Lakers set for the postseason.
But whatever happens on paper, what’s happening off it is already clear: Morris is leading. Not with minutes. Not with highlights. But with presence.
The post Not LeBron James but This Star Is Leading Locker Room Duties Amid Uncertainty Over Lakers’ Major Concern appeared first on EssentiallySports.
