No Excuses, No Regrets: Montrezl Harrell Talks Comeback, KD in Houston, and His Global Grind

Montrezl Harrell has always played the game with a fire that can’t be taught. From his high-energy days at Louisville to becoming a force off the bench in the NBA, Harrell has earned respect for his relentless motor, physicality, and emotional intensity. He’s never been the biggest guy on the court — but his presence, both vocally and physically, is always felt. Whether it’s diving for a loose ball or powering through contact, Montrezl plays with a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove.

In recent years, that chip has taken on new meaning. After tearing his ACL, Harrell faced one of the toughest challenges of his career: the road to recovery. In this exclusive sit-down, he got candid about what that process was really like — physically, mentally, and emotionally — and how it gave him a new outlook on the game and life beyond it. For a player whose game is rooted in toughness, the rehab grind demanded an even deeper level of resilience.

On Episode 4 of Scoop B Selects, we talked about his time playing in Australia and how that experience sharpened his skill set in ways he didn’t expect. Harrell spoke honestly about how the international game challenged him, and how the slower pace and structure overseas helped him fine-tune his reads and awareness — things he’s bringing back stateside with purpose.

As the NBA continues to evolve, so does Harrell’s perspective. We asked him if there’s anyone in today’s league who reminds him of himself — a player who brings that same blue-collar mentality to every possession. And with Kevin Durant now a member of the Houston Rockets, Harrell gave his take on what that could mean for one of the game’s most exciting young bigs, Alperen Şengün.

This conversation is about more than just basketball. It’s about growth, pain, persistence, and identity. 

Here’s our full Q&A with Montrezl Harrell:

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Is there anyone in today’s NBA who you think plays with a similar style or mindset as you?

Montrezl Harrell: I don’t know man, probably not because honestly I’m a guy that plays with a lot of energy and a lot of aggression around the rim, you know? But at the same time, I do a lot throughout the summers and stuff like that to add and keep shifting my game and keep creating different moves to try to improve my game. So I doubt that it is — I mean, most people would probably say that they don’t want a game like mine but I don’t really care, you know? I know who I am and I accepted who I am and I’m blessed to be who I am. 

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: How did your time playing in Australia impact your game and mindset?

Montrezl Harrell: I really wouldn’t really say that it sharpened but it definitely had me fall back into the love of the game because I was coming out of a place where it was kind of a crazy year for me with the 76ers. I was told to get on the floor and I pushed myself to an extremely hard limit and I tore my ACL and my meniscus, man. So it was a place where I would be able to get back to playing basketball again, enjoying it and being around people that love being in the gym and just love playing the game, you know? Because there’s no hidden secret that there is definitely a tremendous pay gap from Australia to the US and the NBA game, you know? But you’re down there with people that love the game and it’s built of the energy and the passion and you can’t beat that. That’s why it was needed where I was at. 

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Do you think it’s tougher for a swingman or a power forward to come back from an ACL injury, or is the recovery pretty much the same across positions?

Montrezl Harrell: Honestly, I wouldn’t say that easier at either position only because in today’s era where we’re at now the game and the medicines that they have are different, man. The rehab is different and the recovery that gets you back where you need to be is completely different to where it was back in the heyday. So I don’t want to say that either is that tremendous of a difference. Both of them are the same ligaments so, it’s all about how you go into your treatment and recovery process really. 

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: How tough was your ACL recovery, and what pushed you through it?

Montrezl Harrell: I mean for me, I went into with a mindset that I was going to do anything to get back on the floor and I worked my tail off and actually I was cleared and I was actually to be on the floor in 6 or 7 months. Most people aren’t out walking and running until nine months, you feel me? So it goes back to how hard you go into your recovery and actually how hard you go into your treatment process and I looked at mine as an uphill battle that I took as a challenge every day and I worked my tail off. 

Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: Now that Kevin Durant’s in Houston, how excited are you to see him paired with Alperen Şengün, and how do you see that fit playing out?

Montrezl Harrell: I mean honestly, when you got a player of Kevin Durant’s caliber, he can play every position on the floor, man. So I don’t really think it’s that hard for him to play with anybody on the floor. He’s won championships with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson and guys like that and has been around real superstars on the floor and then having to be subbed out and be the guy for a different role and stuff like that so, when you have a guy like that high caliber, you don’t need too much, man. Just put him on the floor with four other people that understand the game of basketball and know what they’re trying to get to and it’s going to be easy for him really. 

Montrezl Harrell has always been an open book when it comes to effort — he leaves it all on the court. But in this conversation, it was clear that his honesty off the court is just as impactful. Reflecting on his ACL recovery, it’s evident that Harrell hasn’t just been working his way back physically — he’s been reshaping his approach to the game, to his role, and to life as a competitor.

His experience in Australia gave him perspective that few NBA vets get — a different lens on spacing, tempo, and decision-making. It’s not just about pounding the rock anymore. It’s about mastering the mental game, staying ready, and finding new ways to contribute on any roster. That kind of evolution is exactly what keeps players like Harrell relevant in today’s changing NBA.

And in an era where high-flying scorers and floor-spacing bigs dominate the headlines, Harrell remains a throwback in the best way — a no-nonsense enforcer who knows how to win battles in the trenches. His admiration for young players like Şengün shows he sees the future coming fast, but he’s far from stepping aside. He’s watching, learning, and staying sharp.

Harrell’s take on whether today’s league has anyone like him was telling — there may be players who do pieces of what he does, but few match his blend of grit and motor. That identity isn’t something he’s chasing anymore. It’s something he’s claimed. Whether as a mentor, a veteran voice, or a spark off the bench, Harrell knows what he brings — and now, he’s ready to bring even more.

This conversation was more than just a check-in with a seasoned vet. It was a reminder that toughness isn’t just physical — it’s mental, emotional, and spiritual. And Montrezl Harrell is still all of that, and then some.