18
Dec
Cut to the Jase
Named: Montrezl Harrell's biggest NBL rival
Cameron Oliver of the Sydney Kings and Montrezl Harrell of the 36ers during the round four NBL match between Adelaide 36ers and Sydney Kings at Adelaide Entertainment Centre, on October 11, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia. Photo: Sarah Reed/Getty Images
Podcasts
Harrell talks a rivalry which transferred overseas and his favourite venues in the NBL
- Montrezl Harrell averaged 20.5 points and 9.3 rebounds for the Adelaide 36ers last season, making the All-NBL Second team
- Harrell's contract was terminated by the 36ers after issues surrounding a positive drug test in China
- 'How does this happen?': Jason Cadee shocked by Harrell release
- 'I couldn't wait': Most electric NBA duo that never was
Trash talking, physicality, competitiveness and even a little bit of dancing - this is what Montrezl Harrell was known for during his time in the NBL.
And every now and then, there was an opponent who met those traits head on, making for a heated match-up and even better entertainment.
Speaking to former Adelaide 36ers teammate Jason Cadee on the Cut to the Jase podcast, the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year revealed who was his biggest rival while playing in Australia.
Funnily enough, it transferred into competitions overseas, and they also played against each other in the NBA.
"It was me and Cam (Oliver)," Harrell said.
To which Cadee replied: "Didn't you guys have a thing?"
That rivalry kicked-off in round four when the 36ers and Kings met and produced one of the viral moments of the season, when Harrell and Oliver had a tussle for the ball, with neither big men letting it go.
"That (rivalry) translated over to China. We played them in the playoffs. Yeah, it was Cam for sure," Harrell said.
The rivalry even dates back to 2021, not that it was a rivalry then, but Harrell clashed with Oliver during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers and his opponent was the Houston Rockets. It was an NBA opportunity Oliver earned after starring in his first NBL stint at the Cairns Taipans alongside Scott Machado.
During the podcast, Harrell also named MyState Bank Arena - the home of the Tasmanian JackJumpers - as his favourite arena in the NBL, outside of playing in front of 36ers fans at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
"Tassie got a nice ass little arena, bro. I like sitting right there by that water and that. That s**t dope to me," he said.
"They got the little different colour seats, that little (arena) get rocking, bro, I like that little venue, I ain't going to lie.
"But as far as the best (arena that's big) it's easily got to be the Melbourne setup, South East and Melbourne United. They just set up like a pro type arena."
Asked to name the arena he liked playing at the least, Harrell said he "loved all of Australia" but recalled there being a blackout in Cairns as they visited to take on the Taipans.
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