Morris: Irving ‘distracted’ with Celtics

Marcus Morris acknowledged Thursday the rumors his former Celtics teammate Kyrie Irving wasn’t a good-enough leader are more fact than fiction. But not for lack of trying, according to Morris, who said Irving may have been distracted by “family stuff’’ — after his grandfather died on Oct. 23, 2018.

Friday at Barclays Center, Irving faces the Knicks for the first time in his new black duds after signing with the Nets.

“The word ‘fail,’ I wouldn’t say,’’ Morris said after the Knicks practiced at AT&T Center before flying home from San Antonio on Thursday after Wednesday’s 120-111 season-opening loss to the Spurs. “I don’t want to say ‘fail,’ I just think mentally he had some other stuff going on and it was hard for him to separate that from the work place.

And that’s difficult sometimes. But I do think he tried his hardest.’’

Morris, who scored 26 points in his Knicks debut, was a role player on a Celtics team that underachieved last season, losing in the second round of the playoffs to the Bucks. The Celtics were considered favorites to make The Finals and possibly win it all.

“He just forgot how big of a leader he was,’’ Morris said. “I think he sometimes forgot that. As a leader, outside stuff can affect our team. And I think that did. Not like outside distractions, but like family stuff he had going on.’’

That Irving was given a large share of the blame for the Celtics’ downfall wasn’t surprising to Morris, though maybe unfair.

“That’s just how it goes,’’ Morris said. “There’s five people on the court. At the end of the day, it’s not just one guy.”

Morris has emerged as one of the Knicks’ leaders.

“A good leader, every day you separate basketball and you separate the off-court things,’’ Morris said. “Like I said, man, he’s human so, that time was a learning experience and we had a lot of young guys so it was tough on him.

“I love Ky. I had a great relationship with Ky. … We never had no problems.’’

➤ Center Mitchell Robinson returned to practice and coach David Fizdale said he expects him to make his season debut after he missed the opener with a sprained ankle. Robinson also has a dislocated finger he has been playing through. Officially, he’s listed as questionable.

“[We missed] rim protection,’’ Fizdale said of the loss to the Spurs. “They had 54 points in the paint against us. That’s the first time we really gave up a lot at the rim. We missed having that roller guy who puts pressure on the rim from a rolling standpoint. It’ll be good to have him back.”

➤ Julius Randle had a strong Knicks debut with 25 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals. But he also had multiple cramps down the stretch that forced him out with 5:03 left. It came with the Knicks down eight and toward the tail end of the Spurs’ game-breaking 18-0 run. Randle sat for over two minutes and scored just two points in the final quarter while going 1-for-3.

“Can’t do that to my team,’’ Randle said of the cramps. “I’ll fix it. It was unfortunate. Crucial part of the game and I’ve got to stay in it.”