Clippers re-sign Montrezl Harrell (2 years, $12M)

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How was your experience in Houston?

It was one of those up and down experiences honestly. It definitely was. Career changer from my rookie year going into my 2nd year. Rookie year I didn't really play at all. 2nd year, it was somewhat of the same but knew I would play on back-to-back nights because Nene didn't play back-to-backs. I knew that's the time I would be playing. As far as my time there, it's one of those up and down type things. When Coach McHale was there, I was in the rotation. Those first 5-7 games, I was in the rotation heavy. I was still learning as a player, learning the offense & how they wanted things done. Coach McHale ended up getting fired and then all my minutes went away. I wasn't one of those players cool just being a part of the team or being on the team. Every chance, every couple days I would ask 'Can I go down to the D-League?'

Was it to get better or you wanted to play?

Both. We ran in the G League, every association runs the same plays that you're gonna run with the main team, maybe a few minor tweaks. You're gonna be featured as the main guy throughout the offense. In that aspect, I just wanted to be able to play the game. Going out and doing layup lines and that really be it didn't sit well with me especially when we were going through tough stretches in that time and there were a lot of close games I felt we lost that one with more effort, extra push, few more offensive rebounds, few more hustle plays, all the little things.

Most despise going down there. When you asked to go down there, you put pride to the side. Did you view it as 'going down' or as I don't want my peers to see it like 'I'm a G League player.' Everyone's not gonna know you asked to go down.

I went down because I wanted to get better as a player. I also enjoyed playing with the guys I was down there with. I enjoyed playing with those guys. They played the right way. They knew even when I came down, they were happy to see me & embrace me like a regular player.

Darkest point of your Houston tenure? Any doubt you would get the opportunity you felt you deserved?

I was always at that 'not knowing' stage, especially my first year. 2nd year, I played on back-to-backs. I produced, gave good minutes & did the little things. I was still learning the game, our system but by the 2nd year, felt what I needed to do and where I needed to be, especially on both ends of the floor. I would say my whole time being there was one of those dark times. When you go from not playing the first year and only playing on back-to-backs in your 2nd year, it's not one of those stable conditions. You can't have an opportunity to prove yourself.

Did you ever doubt you would get the opportunity or doubt yourself?

I don't know what that means. I know the work I put in behind closed doors, even when I wasn't playing in my first & 2nd year. I'd go in with John Lucas. I'm shooting 100 threes in spots from the two corners & top of the key, then we're playing two-on-two full court. I did that every day. Then I did it twice when it came to playing back-to-backs. I would come in early before any other guys and I'm upstairs in the other gym playing two-on-two in a full sweat. I'm getting my work in. Nights I would maybe play a little or maybe not play a little bit, on games that weren't back-to-back, after the game I'm heading right back into the gym to get my shots up. I spend a lot of time in gym as I do now.

You were part of a big significant trade. Was that an exciting time?

It was more so of a surprise than I would say excitement. When it first kind of came out, it came out like twice. When it first came out, I wasn't a part of it. It was Sam, Pat, Lou and that was really it. Then when it came to the finalization of it and the crazy thing is, after it first came out, they were kinda telling me I was gonna be good, nothing to worry about, I'm still gonna be there.

We've heard that before.

Then when it came to the final trade, it was me, Sam, Lou & Pat. I looked at it as another opportunity. I relished in the moment of you know, I'm gonna have an opportunity to prove myself, how hard I work and put myself in position to get minutes.

What did Doc Rivers first say to you?

He kinda knew I could play the game of basketball because my season high with the Rockets came against the Clippers. I had 30. He knew what type of player I was. [...]