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Their time apart lasted an NBA season and a half in their nearly 24 years of life. But even that short chapter seemed like an eternity for identical twins Markieff and Marcus Morris. Now reunited with the Phoenix Suns, they are on a united mission to remain teammates the rest of their NBA careers.

"We vowed that we work so hard that it will never happen again," Markieff Morris said. "You never know how it will happen or how it's going to go. We are cherishing this time."

The Morris twins were born in Philadelphia on Sept. 2, 1989. Their bond grew tight from the start as their mother impressed on them to always stay united. After their family home burned down in high school, they slept in two twin beds pushed together in their grandparents' basement.

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Today, the twins have the same tattoos and facial hair. The only distinct difference in their appearance is that the 6-foot-10, 245-pound Markieff is 10 pounds heavier and an inch taller. They live in the same Phoenix home with Markieff earning rights to the master bedroom after beating Marcus in "Madden 2013." Markieff used the Dallas Cowboys. Marcus used his hometown Philadelphia Eagles.

"When something happens good or bad, everyone knows who I am going to first [to talk] and who he is going to first," Marcus said. "It's not even a question. I'm going to be right there. He's going to be right there."

The twins landed scholarships to Kansas after stellar high school careers. Marcus averaged 17.2 points as a junior while Markieff averaged 13.6 points. After declaring for the 2011 NBA draft following their junior years, Markieff was selected 13th overall by the Suns and Marcus was taken No. 14 by the Houston Rockets.

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Suns president Lon Babby unsuccessfully tried to acquire the Rockets' pick to select Marcus.

"We thought their synergy was extraordinary having both together," Babby said. "We had a chance to trade for Marcus on draft night, but the price tag was too high."

Marcus said reality hit the day after the draft that he and Markieff would be split for the first time.

"You've been with a guy your entire life and then you realize this could lead to separation for a long time," Marcus said. "We were happy for each other, but there was the thought in the back of our minds that we wouldn't be together."

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