Montrezl Harrell returns to NBL with renewed fire

• Adelaide 36ers off-season got even better after signing Bryce Cotton, re-signing Montrezl Harrell on a one-year extension
• Harrell is now paired with five-time MVP Cotton, after the Adelaide club secured Bryce Cotton for three years
• The 36ers roster is starting to become on of the most feared heading into NBL26

Montrezl Harrell will head back to the NBL for #NBL26 where he believes he's truly appreciated for his passionate style of play.

The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year shared his enthusiasm about returning to the league where he rediscovered his love for basketball after dealing with a serious knee injury that derailed his NBA career.

"It's a blessing. It's a place where I was able to go and be able to fall back in love with the game of basketball and just be where people appreciate me and not judge me for just being who I am," Harrell said.

The 31-year-old forward has embarked on a global basketball journey over the past year, playing in Australia, China, and Puerto Rico while also competing in the BIG3 league in America.

Harrell's return to the NBL represents a significant statement for the 36ers, who have been able to pair him alongside NBL legend Bryce Cotton.

"Just to be right down there and just to be with the same organisation that really saw me and how much they really wanted me throughout the whole time from the season ending to us getting a deal done and being back there with them for a full year and seeing what I can do, man... It's gonna be a lot of fun," Harrell explained.

Since suffering an ACL and meniscus tear while with the Philadelphia 76ers, Harrell has felt overlooked by NBA teams despite making a full recovery. He noted that he was medically cleared before the NBA season even concluded but believes the injury stigma has followed him.

"The NBA is something that I would definitely love to go back to but at the end of the day, where I'm at in my life you gotta understand that I've had a great career and the way that the game looks at it when it comes to the NBA game, once you have an injury they start to write you off," Harrell reflected.

His frustration with how his NBA career ended, particularly with the 76ers, was evident as he described reaching a point where he "hated being in the gym" – something completely contrary to his identity as a basketball lover.

The power forward has built a reputation as a high-energy player who brings intensity and emotion to every game. Harrell was the 2019-20 NBA Sixth Man of the Year with the Los Angeles Clippers and has averaged 12.9 points and 5.2 rebounds across his eight NBA seasons.

Australian basketball fans will remember Harrell's impactful first season in the NBL, where his relentless playing style and rim-running abilities made him an immediate fan favourite.

"I was blessed to be able to be in a situation where they welcomed me with open arms in Australia," Harrell said. "It was amazing to just be a part of that whole culture and that vibe and actually be a part of the NBL and how they not catered to me, but actually appreciate the things that I do for them on the court."

Harrell also shared his experiences playing recently in Puerto Rico, describing it as "a new place where I can obviously look at as another opportunity to further more of my basketball career" and praising the passionate fan base there.

The forward's global journey since his NBA departure demonstrates his unwavering love for the game. Despite the setbacks, Harrell has maintained his passion and competitiveness across multiple leagues worldwide.

"I'm STILL the player that loves to play the game. I still come in and do my job to the highest level that anybody does it at," Harrell emphasised. "I had one injury my whole entire basketball career, one surgery my whole entire basketball career."

For Harrell, the return to Australia represents more than just another playing opportunity – it's a chance to compete in an environment where he feels genuinely valued for what he brings to the court, and for the 36ers, a genuine opporunity at their first title since 2001.