Ex-NBA big man back at Adelaide 36ers
The Adelaide 36ers are shaping as NBL championship heavyweights after announcing ex-NBA player Montrezl Harrell would return to a roster now also boasting Bryce Cotton.
Former NBA sixth man of the year Harrell was among the competition's best forwards last season, averaging 20.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game for Adelaide.
Harrell was initially recruited as an injury replacement for fellow American Jarell Martin, but saw the season out at the Sixers and was named in the All-NBL Second Team.
He became beloved by Adelaide fans for his on-court showmanship and physicality and forged a fruitful combination with Kendric Davis, who has since joined the Sydney Kings.
Harrell's chemistry with new guard Cotton, one of the NBL's greatest-ever players, looms as crucial to the Sixers' hopes of a first championship since 2002.
"Montrezl is a unique piece in the NBL with his size, power and overall skillset," said Sixers general manager of basketball Matt Weston.
"There's nobody like him in this competition and we saw it first-hand last season, he's hard to stop."
Harrell joins local centre Isaac Humphries and shooting guard Dejan Vasiljevic as a key player for the 36ers, who have one roster spot remaining.
Prior to his debut season with Adelaide, Harrell played 547 NBA games and is perhaps best remembered for a three-year stint at the Los Angeles Clippers, with whom he won the 2019/20 sixth man of the year award.
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