The disappearing genius! In just 3 years, he went from being the first substitute in the NBA to being without the ball.

The brisk whistle in the tunnel became the final sound of his NBA career.

According to reports from ESPN Australia, Montrezl Harrell has parted ways with the Adelaide 36ers of the NBL League. It is worth mentioning that Harrell just completed his contract extension with the team 4 months ago. The reason for this termination is still unknown, but one thing is certain. This former NBA Super Sixth Man is destined to spend the rest of his career in wandering, and it all started with that brisk whistle.

The time goes back to the 19-20 season. This year was a watershed in Harrell's career. In the Clippers, he averaged 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, and was successfully elected as the league's best sixth man. This season, he was one of the most dynamic inside scorers in the league. With his excellent athletic ability and finishing ability at the basket, he became an important firepower on the bench. However, just as Harrell reached the peak of his personal statistics, the playoffs exposed the fatal flaws of his technical characteristics.

In the series against the Nuggets, his defensive shortcomings were infinitely magnified and his playing time was greatly reduced. This also made Harrell dissatisfied. Especially in the semifinals, he had a conflict with team leader Paul George. It was the second game of the series. George There were consecutive mistakes, one of which was a long pass to Harrell, but it was intercepted by a teammate. During the timeout, Harrell complained that George should not pass the long ball, and the latter said that if you move in time, the ball can be obtained. After that, the two started arguing.

In G6, the Clippers suffered a reversal from the Nuggets and the series was dragged into a tiebreaker. In this game, Harrell only played 15 minutes, but his performance was very poor, with a plus-minus value of -19. However, in After the game, when his teammates all walked back to the locker room with their heads hanging down in frustration, Harrell whistled with a relaxed look on his face, as if to say, 'If you don't let me play, you lose.' In the end, the Clippers lost the tiebreaker and stopped in the semifinals.

Although Harrell's various behaviors and performances are not considered professional, his performance in the past season was very eye-catching, especially for weak teams, which can bring energy and vitality, such as the Hornets, who offered 5 years and 80 million US dollars. Yuan, invited Harrell to join, but was rejected by the latter. Immediately, he reached a two-year, $19 million contract with the Lakers. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that Harrell was expressing dissatisfaction with the Clippers and wanted to "retaliate" against his old club in the new season.

How about saying that Harrell is unprofessional? He is too impulsive. Although Los Angeles is no stranger, the Lakers' system is completely different from the Clippers. He can't find a position here at all. What's worse is that Vogel is a defense-focused coach. Under Harrell, Harrell was destined not to get many opportunities. In the playoffs, his average playing time was less than 10 minutes per game, and his data dropped to 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds. As the team stopped in the first round, the dream of "revenge" on the Clippers was also shattered. Under the leadership of George, his old club advanced all the way to the Western Conference Finals.

To make matters worse, the Lakers did not affirm Harrell's ability. After the season, they sent the former Best Sixth Man to the Wizards through a trade. Since then, Harrell's career has begun a steep downward curve.

Although Harrell has returned to his peak in the Wizards, improving his statistics to 14.1 points and 6.7 rebounds, he is too self-righteous, as if he is the core of the Wizards. After a failed request for the ball, Harrell yelled at Pope, and the two eventually broke into a physical conflict. This behavior further damaged his already poor reputation.

If technical flaws and personality issues were the remote reasons for Harrell's departure from the NBA, then the serious injury to his right knee in August 2023 was the last straw that broke the camel's back. The anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus were torn. For an inside player like Harrell who relies on explosive power, it was almost a devastating blow, and the 76ers eventually waived him. After nearly a year of recovery, Harrell tried to return to the game, but the door to the NBA seemed to have been closed to him. Since then, no NBA team has been willing to offer him a contract. The 30-year-old Harrell had to face the reality of having no ball to play.

In the world of professional sports, not every player can have a glorious farewell moment like Kobe or Duncan. Most players leave quietly, and Harrell is one of them.

From a second-round pick to the Sixth Man of the Year, Harrell's career is an inspirational story. In his eight-year NBA career, he averaged 12.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. For a second-round pick, he is already quite good. , but one act of impulsiveness directly ruined a brilliant career. Perhaps late one night, Harrell will reflect on his original words and deeds. But fortunately, he is still young enough and can continue his basketball dream. If not, Harrell's intestines may regret it.