Harrell set to debut at HoopsFest

New Adelaide 36ers signing Montrezl Harrell looks set to debut next Sunday against Sydney Kings at HoopsFest in Perth.

Harrell, the 2020 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, has been signed as a Nominated Replacement Player for import power forward Jarell Martin and will arrive in South Australia next week.

“All things going the way they should, he should be playing in Perth,” Adelaide 36ers General Manager of Basketball Matt Weston said.

After Martin was ruled out with injury for the beginning of the season, Weston said the club went on the front foot in trying to find the right piece to cover for the NBL22 championship winner.

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“There were 40-odd names on the list. We crunched a lot of data on these guys as well… we want to find the player that suits us best,” Weston said.

“It’s not ideal the Martin situation, that’s obvious.

“But we needed to press the go button and get it happening (with Harrell).

“There were a lot of phone calls convincing him. He’s got kids in school and wants to spend time with them. So, I was on my knees and saying we need you.”

Adelaide 36ers head coach Mike Wells has a strong reputation around the NBA, and along with his coaching resume, was a big reason for Harrell’s decision to join the club.

“He (Harrell) and his agent were on the phone at 1am (on Tuesday night) for about 55 minutes,” Weston said.

“He was really dialled in though. We spoke through what Mike is doing here and how it fits. It’s an easy transition because Mike only knows NBA. We are running a lot of NBA stuff and the terminology. So, it should be easy for him to click here with us.”

The 515-game NBA veteran last played for Philadelphia in 2023 and at 30-years-old, hopes to arrive in the NBL and springboard himself back to the states.

“He’s the NBA version of Zylan Cheatham… that’s the role we want him to play. You don’t have to create an offence for him, he can make that happen himself like he’s shown in the past,” Weston said.

Adelaide 36ers will play Sydney Kings on Sunday, September 22 at RAC Arena in Perth as part of inaugural HoopsFest.