Adelaide star Montrezl Harrell vows to maintain the rage in wake of NBL fan fight

Adelaide’s Montrezl Harrell considered quitting the NBL in the wake of the ugly fan brawl that led to his hefty ban. But he’s back – as brash as ever – and has vowed to maintain the rage.

Don’t expect emotion-charged NBL superstar Montrezl Harrell to change in the wake of last month’s Melbourne melee and crowd incident, the Aussie Monsta vowing to maintain the rage with his on-court aggression and passion ahead of his return from suspension.

An emotion-charged Harrell flew back to Atlanta a day after the ugly scenes unfolded against Melbourne United, watching and supporting from afar as his Adelaide 36ers dipped from fourth to ninth on the back of three losses without their key big man.

Harrell and teammate Kendric Davis, a victim of racial abuse from spectators, were suspended after they made contact with two Melbourne United fans, who copped hefty bans out of the November 17 incident, which followed a melee between the two teams that kicked off when Harrell and United big man Rob Loe became entangled.

Asked if he planned to reign in his trademark on-court emotion, the 30-year-old said “not at all”.

Montrezl Harrell fights with Melbourne United players earlier this year. Picture: Getty

“It’s not one of the things I’d even think about, not something that I want to change,” Harrell told Code Sports.

“That situation just happened, man. They dealt with it as far as handing down suspensions. I made my comments on that and I just let it be.

“I’m not going to change the type of player, the type of person I am when I’m in between those lines just to tone down or fit the idea of what something is supposed to be.”

For a fleeting moment, Harrell considered severing ties with the NBL, but time with his family — he has a boy and girl, 6 and 7, at home in Atlanta — discussions with his agent and the support of both club and fanbase, softened that stance.

“End of the day, I started something so I want to finish it,” he said.

“I definitely feel the support every time we step foot on that floor, I feel it throughout the city in Adelaide, it’s a great place to be.

Montrezl Harrell is feeling the love from Adelaide. Picture: Getty

“As far as the fanbase, as far as overall general living, these people welcome you like you’re one of their own.

“They understand the different versions of me and all the aggression and passion I play with on the floor versus me being outside the line and just being a regular human once I leave the gym.”

The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year has put the NBL on notice but he’s under no illusion as to the battle his squad now faced, with a first step Saturday night against the sliding New Zealand Breakers in front of a looming eighth straight sellout crowd at Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

“We took a big slope, went from fourth all the way down … so we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Harrell, who was third in the league in points (20.2) and second in rebounds (9.2) before his suspension, said.

Harrell disputes a call with a referee during a clash with Tasmania this season. Picture: Getty

“We were on a great path and had ourselves in a great place before all that mess took place and they started handicapping our team with taking guys out and we got most of the punishment out of that situation.

“But, at the end of the day, it is what it is, so it’s more just letting guys know that ‘prepare, we’re coming’.

“We understand where we are, we understand what we have to make up.”

A silver lining of the absence of their stars was the opportunity afforded to some of the Sixers’ youngsters, particularly bouncy guard Keanu Rasmussen, who set career-highs across the board in three eye-catching appearances.

“The guys did a lot of growing and coming together over these three games,” Harrell said.

“Did the outcome come to what we wanted? No, it didn’t, but, at the same time, these guys played amazing in their opportunity to show us what they can do.”

“All these guys understand how excited I am to get back out here with them and everyone can now take a stride and really hone in and put together a good amount of wins to put ourselves back in position to be where we were before everything took place.”

Montrezl Harrell has quickly become a fan favourite in Adelaide. Picture: Getty

Adelaide’s first assignment in Harrell’s return is a home date with a team arguably in a deeper mire than the Sixers on the back of five straight losses by an average of 23 after roster upheaval.

“We know they’re a fast-paced team, PJC’s (Parker Jackson-Cartwright) the head of the snake for them, we understand that coming in, we have to really put him in an uncomfortable situation,” Harrell said of the Breakers.

“They’re a different outlook team. These guys make moves … and it seems like they’re going through some growing pains and trying to figure out who they are once again.”

As you’d imagine, the fiery vet isn’t daunted by the task of facing off against gargantuan 229cm former NBA man Tacko Fall, brought in at the expense of Freddie Gillespie.

“I been playing against oversized guys my whole entire career, playing the five position in the NBA and I’m only measured at 6’7”, 6’8”, man, so everybody I’ve played against have been 6’10”, 7-footer-type guys, it doesn’t bother me,” he said.

“There’s two ends of the floor so, in the same ways I have to figure out ways that I’m going to have to stop him, he’s going to have to figure out ways that he’s going to have to stop me, I don’t really concern myself with how tall he is.”

Originally published as Adelaide star Montrezl Harrell vows to maintain the rage in wake of NBL fan fight