Import to local: Reigning NBL champion edges closer to shock allegiance switch — NBL Daily

Illawarra Hawks star Tyler Harvey is one step closer to becoming an Australian citizen as a wave of key storylines surrounds the NBL. Montrezl Harrell has completed his three-month drug ban, Cairns guard Andrew Andrews is drawing overseas interest after a career-best season, Adelaide’s form is under scrutiny amid an off-court complaint involving the Sydney Kings, and the injury-hit Tasmania JackJumpers have suffered another setback.

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TYLER HARVEY ONE STEP CLOSER TO RESIDENCY

Illawarra Hawks import Tyler Harvey is one step closer to becoming an Australian citizen, following in the footsteps of five-time MVP Bryce Cotton, who became a permanent resident on September 22, 2025.

The club confirmed in a statement that Harvey has now been granted Australian permanent residency – a key step in the citizenship process.

“The Illawarra Hawks are thrilled to confirm that Co-Captain Tyler Harvey has been granted permanent residency in Australia, with the outcome confirmed late this afternoon. The club continues to support Tyler and his family as they work through the process of becoming Australian citizens,” the statement read.

The 32-year-old’s new status puts him on track to play as a local rather than an import from the 2026-27 season, which will allow the Hawks an extra import spot on the roster.

Harvey first signed with the Hawks ahead of the 2021-22 season and, six years later, remains one of the faces of the franchise. He played a central role in Illawarra’s NBL championship run last season and has compiled an impressive résumé across 188 NBL games, including a title and two All-NBL First Team selections.

If Harvey becomes eligible for local status ahead of the 2027-28 season – when he is also set to hit free agency – he would instantly become one of the most intriguing players in the market.

This season, he is averaging 16.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 26 appearances.

MONTREZL HARRELL DRUG BAN OVER.

Former Adelaide 36ers import and NBA Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell has now served his three-month suspension handed down by the China Anti-Doping Agency, ending a year-long saga. The 32-year-old is now ready to focus on his upcoming season in Puerto Rico.

On April 15, 2025, Harrell and fellow import Troy Gillenwater were subjected to a random drug test conducted by the league’s anti-doping centre during Harrell’s time with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball League. The uncertainty surrounding the pending decision led the Adelaide 36ers to release Harrell before the start of the NBL season.

In November 2025, Harrell was suspended for three months after testing positive for carboxy-THC, a compound found in cannabis. The ban, which began on November 5, 2025, prevented him from participating in any professional league operating under the World Anti-Doping Agency Code and ends today, February 4, 2026.

While fellow import Troy Gillenwater, who received the same suspension, chose to play in Taiwan during his ban (which ended on January 12), Harrell reportedly decided not to pursue the same route. Sources told Fox Sports Australia that he accepted the suspension, avoiding further complications, and is now ready to return to basketball and focus on supporting his family.

Looking ahead, Harrell signed with Atléticos de San Germán in Puerto Rico’s BSN on January 3, 2026. He hopes a strong season will put him in a good position to return to the NBL, a goal he previously confirmed in an interview with Fox Sports Australia.

“I have unfinished business and I want to win an NBL Championship,” Harrell said.

OVERSEAS CLUBS CIRCLE TAIPANS GUARD ANDREW ANDREWS

Cairns Taipans import Andrew Andrews is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career in his first year in the NBL – and it hasn’t gone unnoticed, with several overseas clubs circling the in-form guard.

American Andrews, who signed with the Taipans in September last year, is putting together a career-best campaign, averaging 33.0 minutes, 14.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game while shooting 39.5 per cent from the field.

He currently sits second in the league for assists and has joined rare company as one of the few players in the 40-minute era (2009 onwards) to record 200 or more assists in a regular season.

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His performances have attracted interest from clubs in Turkey and China. Sources close to Fox Sports Australia say Andrews is expected to make a decision on his future soon, but have emphasised he remains fully professional and committed to seeing out the remainder of his tenure with the Taipans.

Those same sources say Andrews is keen to join an overseas team in playoff contention, though he has not ruled out a return to the NBL next season. He has enjoyed his time in Australia and is grateful to both the league and the Taipans for providing the opportunity to redefine his game.

With the Taipans officially out of play-in contention and just four games remaining in their season, imports like Andrews will soon begin turning their attention to life beyond the NBL during the upcoming off-season.

NBL EXPERTS QUESTION 36ERS SIZE AMID RECENT STRUGGLES

There is growing noise around the Adelaide 36ers after a 2-4 stretch across their past six games has tightened the ladder, with the Sydney Kings and South East Melbourne Phoenix looming with just three rounds remaining.

This weekend presents a genuine chance for either rival to leapfrog Adelaide. But before that happens, the panel of Damon Lowery, Pete Hooley and Felix Von Hofe unpacked the 36ers’ slide on NBL Overtime – and the assessment was blunt.

In Round 19, Adelaide split results. They beat the Brisbane Bullets in a fiery Gold Coast clash that resulted in multiple fines and suspensions across both teams, before being comprehensively outplayed by the Phoenix.

For Lowery, the issue was clear.

“But the biggest thing is that Adelaide 36ers are, they’re now officially too small. And you know, they’re actually not too small – Mike Wells just elects to play a lot of small ball. That is the issue,” Lowery said.

“When South East Melbourne Phoenix came to town, it was an almighty beatdown. Now I must say, Isaac Humphries, he has some knee complaints, so he didn’t play a whole lot late in the game. And when he was out there, he wasn’t overly effective.

“So that leaves Zylan Cheatham, Pete, out there with four – pick a guard, any guard – and that’s what they’re running with.”

The Phoenix punished that approach with size, physicality and relentless work on the glass.

“John Brown’s a menace on the offensive glass,” Hooley said.

“21 offensive rebounds at half time and they’ve just got multiple guys who are going to crash the glass.”

Despite the concern, Hooley stopped short of calling it panic stations.

“We talk about panic stations – I’m not panicking yet if I’m the Adelaide 36ers,” Hooley said.

“They’ve got two big games this round. They’ve got an Illawarra Hawks team – a desperate Illawarra team whose season is completely on the line. And then they play Melbourne United.

“If they somehow lose both of those, we might be sitting here next Monday having a very different conversation.”

For Hooley, the concern is less about the record and more about how Adelaide’s losses have looked.

“Here is their last six. They lost to Tasmania – Tasmania were healthy at the time, so that was a tough loss. We thought Tasmania were going to be great.

“Then they lost to the Phoenix by 19. They defeated New Zealand by two in overtime – they should have lost that, or at least closed it out in regulation.

“They lost to the Kings by five – albeit the last three minutes they were much better. The Phoenix again… and I’m not reading into that Brisbane game at all. They did what they had to do.

“No defensive identity, their rotations are all over the place and I’m not sure where their offense is. I think they’ve become very easy to scout right now. And the time to fix it is now because we’re getting very close.”

The conversation also turned to Mike Wells’ post-game press conference following the Phoenix loss, where the 36ers coach attempted to explain what went wrong.

“I thought our guys really tried to do a lot of really good things. I thought they played hard,” Wells said.

“Unfortunately, offensive rebounds in the first half, right?

“21 offensive rebounds in a half is probably not going to be the greatest thing for your team.”

Von Hofe noted the tone of Wells’ delivery.

“He just sounds dejected. He looks tired, he looks worn out at the moment. It’s a long season.”

Hooley added that Wells also referenced travel and limited practice time with new import John Jenkins, while stressing he wasn’t making excuses.

“But this is the perfect time to figure it out. Because in the end, their talent is there. There’s a reason they’ve been on top,” Hooley said.

“Isaac Humphries, hopefully his knee’s OK – that’s a little bit of a concern. But there’s talent all over the board. They’ve just got to find those answers quick.

“If they can beat the Hawks and then beat Melbourne United and look good doing it, we’ll feel very different.

“But as of right now, hearing that from Mike and everything we’ve seen, of course you’re allowed to be concerned because this is a team that was flying at one stage.”

How Adelaide respond this round will shape the narrative of their season. If they rediscover the identity that had them clear atop the ladder, they remain a genuine championship threat.

If not, the red-hot Phoenix and Kings are waiting.

36ERS SET TO LODGE COMPLAINT AGAINST KINGS AMID ‘EMERGENCY MEETING’ CLAIMS

Following Adelaide’s loss to the Phoenix, reports surfaced claiming 36ers officials had held emergency meetings regarding head coach Mike Wells.

The story gained traction when Sydney Kings minority owner and assistant coach Andrew Bogut weighed in on X.

“Pretty wild league where the ‘leaders’ of your team meet to chat about firing your Head Coach, whilst you sit in 1st place on the @NBL Ladder, with only a handful of games to go until the playoffs!” Bogut posted on Monday afternoon.

The timing raised eyebrows. Adelaide has gone 2-4 across its past six games, including two losses to the Phoenix and one to the Kings. Despite the dip in form, the 36ers still hold the league’s best record at 21-8 and remain on top of the ladder with three rounds to play.

9News Adelaide reporter Will Crouch pushed back on the claims, stating on X: “I can confirm this is categorically untrue. 36ers have had no crisis talks with Mike Wells and I’m told he has the full backing of ownership.”

The situation escalated further with reports that Adelaide management lodged an official complaint with the Kings, given Bogut’s position as a minority owner.

Foxsports.com.au understands 36ers officials are unaware of any such meetings regarding Wells’ future.

The NBL declined to comment when contacted by foxsports.com.au.

MORE TO COME

THIRD SEASON-ENDING INJURY IN BATTLE FOR SIXTH PLACE

Just one week after losing star import Bryce Hamilton to a season-ending injury – following Will Magnay’s earlier setback – the Tasmania JackJumpers have confirmed guard Ben Ayre will also miss the remainder of the season with a groin injury.

While the race for sixth place remains firmly in Tasmania’s favour, it is not yet locked in, and this latest blow threatens to see the former champions limp toward the finish line.

Prior to the official announcement, head coach Scott Roth addressed Ayre’s injury status following Tasmania’s win over the New Zealand Breakers, admitting the condition was both complicated and lingering.

“I don’t want to pronounce it – I’ll embarrass myself – but there’s a technical name for what he has,” Roth said.

“Basically, it’s a lower abdomen, groin issue that’s only going to be resolved by rest.

“That’s two or three months of rest. We’ll take it week by week, but I don’t know if he’ll be back this year. It’s more of a muscular issue from overuse. He’s been struggling with it for about a month, fighting through it, and it just gradually got worse. I think it came to a head in Cairns.”

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The injury has since been confirmed as osteitis pubis, a condition affecting the groin and lower abdominal region.

With Ayre now officially sidelined, his focus shifts to recovery and preparing for the off-season.

Ayre originally signed a two-year deal with the JackJumpers, with the second year a mutual option. Given his strong performances under Roth and his seamless fit within the team’s identity, there is a strong chance both parties opt to continue the partnership.

Across 29 appearances this season, Ayre averaged 6.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 37.3 per cent from the field. But it’s his relentless edge and ability to get under opponents’ skin that truly sets him apart – qualities that make him the quintessential JackJumpers player.

With three games remaining, the JackJumpers will lean heavily on their young bench group to carry them through the remainder of the season.