36ers terminate contract of Montrez Harrell

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The Adelaide 36ers have terminated former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell's contract just days before their first game of NBL1.

He has also been removed as the SuperCoach NBL Beat the Coach by News Corporation.

The club said in a statement the termination was in relation to an ongoing positive drugs test from April this year.

"Harrell is currently serving a provisional ban after he was found to have used a prohibited substance while playing for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association," the statement said.

"He was tested in April 2025 with a positive finding being announced two months later - after he had already re-signed with the Adelaide 36ers.

"As it stands, Harrell is not permitted to train or play, and with no timeline on when the process will be finalised and no certainty on any sanctions, the Club has been left with no option but to terminate Harrell’s contract to allow it to move to finalise the playing roster.

"Because the matter in China is ongoing, the Adelaide 36ers remain constrained by the confidentiality policies of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and are unable to comment further on the matter."

‍Harrell posted a farewell message to NBL fans: "glad I can say I got to play in the NBL. I appreciate you guys thanks for letting me experience what down under life was like! Thanks for having the monsta goodbye and blessing to all!"

"Much love for all the Australian fans man I truly appreciate and love the support and energy y'all gave to me!" Harrell posted to Twitter last night.

"Made me fall in love with hoops again last year in a dark time! Will always be grateful for that!"

The 36ers had been navigating issues with Harrell rand pulled him from the exhibition game against Panathinaikos in Sydney on Sunday where he was replaced by Vrenz Bleijenbergh.

"Like I understand fail a drug test!" Harrell also wrote.

"I get what the test showed!

"What I get lost is on the doping part!

"Because doping is rule on taking a drug to increase or gain an edge in competition use!

"I know damn well I had zero of anything like that in me so again doping???"

What added to the initial confusion was Harrell's recent appearances playing in Puerto Rico and the Big3 before returning to Australia.

Harrell had been hinting at issues recently with various tweets, including with one that read "No lie this honestly gone mess up a lot of fans!" just hours before the reported move broke.

He then tweeted: Like I understand fail a drug test! I get what the test showed! What I get lost is on the doping part! Because doping is rule on taking a drug to increase or gain an edge in competition use! I know damn well I had zero of anything like that in me so again doping???

All tweets relating to the incident have now been deleted.

Harrell re-signed with the 36ers almost immediately after the club signed five-time MVP Bryce Cotton but controversy already surrounded the start to his second season in Adelaide.

The former Louisville Cardinals college standout arrived late back in Australia and then did not take part in Adelaide’s pre-season games nor the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament against Panathinaikos in Sydney where the club released it was "due to a matter raised during his time competing in China".

The former Clippers, Lakers, Rockets, Wizards, Hornets and 76ers big man was a huge part of the NBL26 promotions, including being the poster boy for the league's new logo for the season 'Play It Loud'.

Harrell last season averaged 20.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1 block a game after coming in as an injury replacement for Jarell Martin before staying for the whole season - a campaign that was riddled by cultural and team environment issues.