After playing in just three NBA games as a rookie, Morris turned many heads during his second year in the league. Serving primarily as Denver's backup point guard, the former second-round pick appeared in all 82 regular-season games and notched 24.0 minutes of playing time per contest. Morris contributed in multiple areas, posting per-game averages of 10.4 points, 3.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds. He was an efficient shooter by all measures, making 80.2 percent of his free throws, 49.3 percent of his field goal attempts and a team-leading 41.4 percent of his shots from behind the arc (minimum eight attempts). Morris also displayed elite ball-handling skills, ranking second in the NBA with a 5.7 assist-to-turnover ratio (minimum 10 assists). For good measure, the 6-foot-2 guard consistently played hard-nosed defense and averaged 1.3 steals per 36 minutes. Morris' skills were on full display over a torrid stretch in December during which he racked up nine straight double-digit scoring efforts, averaging 14.1 points, 4.6 assists and 1.8 steals while making 19-of-36 three-point attempts. He played a season-high 41 minutes in a starting role during a win over Minnesota on Feb. 2 and collected the first double-double of his NBA career, racking up 17 points and 10 assists along with seven boards. Though Morris' playing time dipped in the postseason, he chipped in 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 14 games. He was a key contributor during Denver's first-round playoff series victory over San Antonio, reaching double digits in scoring in four of seven games.

Morris was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft. The 51st overall selection that year, Morris signed a two-way contract with the franchise. The Iowa State product appeared in three games for the Nuggets off the bench. Morris set career highs across the board in a game at the Houston Rockets on Feb. 9. Playing 22 minutes, Morris collected 10 points, two rebounds, six assists and three steals. Morris shot 4-for-5 from the floor and was a perfect 2-of-2 from the charity stripe in that contest.