Suns rookie Morris prefers a bench role

The Suns rookie is back in his familiar spot, a more comfortable spot: coming off the bench.

"It's the best role for Markieff right now," said head coach Alvin Gentry, who added it was Morris who approached him about re-joining the second unit.

"When I was starting I was taking a backseat," Morris explained. "For me I was kind of deferring to [Marcin] Gortat and Steve [Nash] and Grant [Hill]. I felt like I was just out on the court. I felt like I wasn't doing anything."

Morris scored a total of 17 points (shooting 28.6 percent) during his five-game run as a starter. He's scored 22 points in the three games since returning to a reserve role.

"I just told Alvin I think it would be better if I come off the bench and bring that spark off the bench."

Morris, who wasn't a starter initially at Kansas, is averaging 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 16 games with the second unit. All seven of his double-digit scoring efforts have come as a bench player.

"I know my role," he said. "I have to be aggressive because I'm one of the go-to guys off the bench."