Hyped Adelaide NBA star Montrezl Harrell explains bizarre NBL ref warning

In the rarest of events, Code Sports can reveal Adelaide star Montrezl Harrell received a mid-game apology from the referees after being hit with a warning for interacting with the crowd.

He’s played over 500 NBA games but Adelaide recruit Montrezl Harrell says being warned by a referee to stop interacting with the crowd during the 36ers’ Hoops Fest clash against Sydney was a bizarre career first.

But, in the rarest of events, Code Sports can reveal referee James Griguol sought out Harrell during a break in play, apologised for his overzealousness and rescinded the warning.

The energetic 30-year-old American spent much of the night feeding off the crowd, barking back at gibes and razzing up fans.

But Griguol’s attempted muzzling of the giant big man after he tried to hype up the crowd following a free throw left him visibly perplexed – and invited derision on social media.

“It’s definitely the first time I ever heard the ref say that,” Harrell told Code Sports.

“But it’s crazy, because he said he overreacted, and he came back during a timeout and apologised.”

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Montrezl Harrell of the 36ers prepares to shoot a free throw during the round one NBL match between Adelaide 36ers and Sydney Kings at RAC Arena, on September 22, 2024, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

With three minutes to go in the third quarter, Griguol issued the following warning to Harrell: “Do not engage with the crowd. If you engage with the crowd it will be a technical foul. Do not engage with the crowd. We’ve got a warning.”

Legends Andrew Gaze and Lanard Copeland were left flummoxed.

“I’ve been around a hundred years and I’ve never heard that in my life,” Copeland said on the NBL broadcast.

The absurd moment even caught the eye of former South East Melbourne import Alan Williams, watching all the way from Korea.

“Do not engage the crowd!???? What!?? Let that man @monstatrezz turn up!!! This is what fans wanna see!” Williams tweeted.

Do not engage the crowd!???? What!?? Let that man @monstatrezz turn up!!! This is what fans wanna see! #NBL25

— BigSauce (@alantwilliams) September 22, 2024

Harrell, who had a 13-point, 12-rebound, 2-block double-double off the bench in his first NBL game, said teammates were shocked by the apology but he gave credit to Griguol for owning up to his mistake.

“My teammates said it was the first time they’ve ever heard it (referee issuing an apology, mid game), but good on him for apologising and saying he overreacted,” Harrell said.

“That’s all you can ask for.

“I just told him, ‘I’m not worried about that, it’s a lot of emotions going on, it’s a lot of high energy in here.”

So, will he change how he plays?

“Hell no, they might as well give me a warning before every game because I do it frequently, interacting with the crowd, and I feed off of it,” he laughed.

Montrezl Harrell filled up the stat sheet against the Kings. Picture: Getty

PRIDE IN UNDERDOGS’ EFFORT

Harrell said it “took a little second to get going” in his debut, but he was pleased the Sixers took it to the title-fancied Kings in a 102-94 loss – they led by five early in the fourth quarter before Sydney turned on the afterburners late.

“You know, it was a great battle, it was fun, man,” he said.

“We got up a little bit, and I felt like when we got up, we got complacent a little bit, man, so they started to make some big-time shots in the fourth quarter.

“But for this team to have some people ranking us 10th starting out the year, to take that top-seed team all the way down to the fourth quarter, and only (lose by, what, eight points?

“My first game out there, we play the top-ranked team, man, and we took them all the way down to the wire.

“That’s a lot of growth for this team.”

THE ENTERTAINER

Coach Mike Wells said the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year was only scratching the surface of his potential in the NBL.

“As he gets his legs under him a little bit more and he gets his game under him a little bit more, you’re going to see him play better and better and more efficient,” Wells said.

“(He’s) an entertainer … He can fit in because he’s been a role player his whole life.

“Whether it’s the Rockets, Clippers, whoever he’s played for, he’s been an energy, roleplayer guy and that’s what he’s going to play for us.”

Montrezl Harrell reacts during the Kings clash. Picture: Getty

REVERSE EFFECT

Perhaps the only downside to Harrell’s passionate display was the spark it gave Sydney’s stone-cold killer Jaylen Adams.

Adams, who missed most of the pre-season with an ankle injury, was in mid-season form, demolishing the Sixers with a monster 25 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and a block, built on 4 three pointers and a near-perfect 7-8 from the charity stripe.

He revealed, post-game, that he relished the challenge Harrell’s intensity posed.

“He’s a competitor, big, physical guy, I thought he played good, too, for somebody who only got here a week ago,” Adams said of Harrell’s effort.

“It was fun to compete, kinda brought the best out in me and I felt like it brought the best out of a lot of guys.”

BRING IT ON – BUT BE CONSISTENT

One of the biggest adjustments for overseas big men is figuring out the league’s much-scrutinised officiating.

At teams, the big bangers are given free rein to manhandle each other, while getting pinged for the slightest little movement on offensive screens.

It’s no different for the 201cm 110kg behemoth – although he’s happy for the refs to let the rough and tumble go, provided it’s consistent.

“They definitely called a little bit different from the US, you know, physical, but I’m not opposed to that,” he said.

“The one thing I will say is, I just need it to be both ways. Man, we going to play physical, then just let us play physical.”

Harrell has his eye on a return to the NBA. Picture: Getty

DOOR AJAR ON LONGER STAY, BUT NBA THE FOCUS

Adelaide hopes to have Harrell in a Sixers’ jersey beyond his two-month injury replacement stint for sore import big man Jarell Martin.

But, with three children aged 6, 7 and 13 back in the US, it’s understandable his ultimate goal is to get back to the NBA as soon as possible.

“I been hearing about that before I even came over here, they were talking to my agent trying to push for me to stay the entire year,” he said.

“But they know how the game go. They know it’s a business, so, if it comes down to that two months where I played myself in a position that somebody’s calling me (from the NBA), I’m not gonna lie – I love Australia, the weather’s been great, but it’s tough, man, because I’ve got my kids over there, my family.”

Having said that, Harrell hasn’t quite slammed the door shut on an extended stay in the City of Churches.

“I don’t look that far away, though. I take it one day at a time,” he said.

“So, if it presents itself to the point where I still have opportunity to play over here, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

Originally published as Hyped Adelaide NBA star Montrezl Harrell explains bizarre NBL ref warning