Montrezl Harrell, the guy who absolutely *dominated* as a Sixth Man of the Year just a few seasons ago, is officially trying to claw his way back into the NBA. This isn’t just some whisper in the wind, either: he was spotted at an open tryout for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers last Saturday, competing for a spot on the G-League team. Talk about putting in the work!
From Second-Round Steal to Bench Beast
Let’s rewind a bit. Harrell’s journey started with the Houston Rockets, who snatched him up as a second-round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He played two of his eight NBA seasons with the Rockets, putting up solid numbers for a young big man: 6.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. Those stats showed flashes of what was to come, but honestly, nobody could have predicted the explosion that followed. He was a force, a high-energy player who always left it all on the court, and you just knew there was more untapped potential there.
Sixth Man of the Year and the Grind Back
Harrell really hit his stride after leaving Houston, becoming one of the league’s premiere sixth men. We’re talking about a guy who absolutely *earned* the 2019-2020 Sixth Man of the Year Award during his time with the Los Angeles Clippers. Those numbers? Insane for a bench player: 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks. He was a true game-changer coming off the bench, bringing a spark that few players could match. His last NBA run was with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2022-23 season, where he played in 57 games. Now, at 32 years old, after a stint in the BIG3, he’s back, trying to prove he still belongs on an NBA roster. It’s a tough road, but Harrell has always been a fighter.
This tryout with the Vipers, Houston’s G-League squad, clearly signals that Harrell might be eyeing a reunion with the franchise that drafted him. You gotta love that kind of loyalty and determination. What’s next for Harrell is huge, whether it’s earning a spot on the Vipers and tearing it up there, or catching the eye of the Rockets’ front office directly. He’s got the pedigree, he’s got the talent, and he’s definitely got that grit. Keep an eye on the G-League scores, because if Harrell gets a spot, you know he’s going to make some noise.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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