After a disappointing half-season with the Hawks, former Net Anthony Morrow is simply happy to be getting a fresh start with the Mavericks.
“Getting out of Atlanta, that was the biggest thing right there,” Morrow told The Post after the Mavericks shootaround at Barclays Center Friday. “Just to have an opportunity [is great]. Coming here, I’m just trying to wean off the little injuries and once I do that, I know I’ll be completely fine. I’m doing a lot of good stuff, and feeling really good in the workouts.
“It’s just a good feeling to feel wanted … I had that feeling here in Jersey, and in Atlanta it just wasn’t there, so that was a bad situation for me.”
Morrow played 24 games with the Hawks, shooting a shade under 40 percent from 3-point range, but dealt with nagging hip and back injuries this season that limited his playing time in Atlanta before he was dealt to Dallas for Dahntay Jones before the deadline.
But Morrow said that even after he healed from the injuries, he simply never got a chance with the Hawks.
“It was worse after [the injuries],” he said. “That was the crazy part, because you work so hard to come back and get off of an injury and get back right, thinking you’re going to get an opportunity, and then you don’t really get it.
“But at the same time, I wasn’t complaining or nothing … I still came in and worked hard, and just prayed I’d get my opportunity.”
He didn’t get that opportunity in Atlanta, but he’s hoping to start getting it in Dallas. Morrow has only played sparingly for the Mavericks so far, but was looking forward to getting a chance to experience playing inside Barclays Center against his former team.
“It’s gonna be fun,” Morrow said. “I’m looking forward to it. I missed the trip here with Atlanta, so I’m just looking forward to the whole atmosphere, getting to see everybody and play in front of these fans. It’s a blessing to be able to be here.”
Morrow also was full of praise for the Barclays Center, which he’d heard all about in his two years with the Nets as construction of the arena went on.
“I think it’s unbelievable,” he said. “It’s crazy … nothing else looks like this. You see all the screens and everything like that … I haven’t seen all the little clubs and everything, but this is crazy.
“It’s got a nice home feel to it. It fits right in with Brooklyn.”
tbontemps@nypost.com
