NICKNAME/S: Ty

BIO: Tyrell Harrison was born in Brisbane (QLD) and grew up in Regents Park, south of Brisbane.

Harrison attended John Paul College and began playing basketball at 15 years of age, spending time at the Logan Metro Indoor Sports Centre before progressing through the South West Metro basketball program.

In 2017, Harrison was selected as a development player with the Brisbane Bullets while continuing his development with the South West Metro Pirates.

FAMILY: Harrison’s father is from New Zealand and raised Tyrell and his older brother with a strong connection to their Māori heritage.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Tyrell Harrison made his NBL debut with the Brisbane Bullets at 18 years of age. He went scoreless in his first NBL game.

Brisbane began 2017/18 looking to improve on an eighth-place 10-18 season, with Andrej Lemanis remaining head coach and Adam Gibson captain. Torrey Craig (to Denver), Jermaine Beal (to Israel) and Jeremy Kendle (to South West Metro) departed, while Travis Trice (via Cairns), Stephen Holt (via Czech Republic) and Perrin Buford (via Italy) joined the team.

Tyrell Harrison joined Brisbane as a development player after playing with South West Metro during the QBL season.

Harrison (0.4 points across 5 games) saw only brief court time behind Brisbane’s experienced frontcourt, with no injury identified as the reason for his limited appearances. His best game came against Illawarra on December 31, where Harrison (1 rebound and 1 block) played less than a minute as the Hawks defeated Brisbane 104-82. Trice (32 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Kickert (16 points and 8 rebounds) led Brisbane, while Conger (24 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals) led Illawarra.

Trice (15.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.3 steals) was named Brisbane’s club MVP, while Buford (15.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks) and Kickert (13.8 points and 4.7 rebounds) were Brisbane’s leading scorers.

Harrison scored his first points of the season in Brisbane’s final game on February 17, where Harrison (2 points) played less than two minutes as Adelaide defeated the Bullets 105-82, leaving Brisbane eighth with a 9-19 record.

2018/19
Following consecutive last-place finishes, Brisbane entered 2018/19 with a significantly different roster under coach Andrej Lemanis. Daniel Kickert (to Sydney), Tom Jervis (to Perth), Mitch Young (to Cairns), Anthony Petrie (retired), Shaun Bruce, Travis Trice and Perrin Buford departed, while Cameron Gliddon (via Cairns), Jason Cadee (via Sydney), Matt Hodgson (via Adelaide), Mika Vukona (via New Zealand), Makoto Hiejima (via Japan) and Alonzo Gee (via Puerto Rico) joined the team and Cam Bairstow returned from knee surgery.

Tyrell Harrison had joined his hometown Bullets as a development player during 2017/18 and returned for a second season as one of the young big men developing behind Brisbane’s experienced frontcourt of Bairstow, Hodgson, Vukona and Magnay.

Harrison (1 point across 6 games) remained at the end of the rotation and saw only brief opportunities throughout the season. No injury was identified as the reason for his limited appearances during 2018/19, with Harrison playing sparingly behind Brisbane’s established frontcourt options.

Harrison’s best game came against Illawarra on December 31, where Harrison (4 points and 1 rebound) made both of his field-goal attempts in just over three minutes as Brisbane defeated the Hawks 100-74. Patterson (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Gliddon (15 points and 5 rebounds) led the Bullets, while David Andersen (15 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) was Illawarra’s leading scorer.

Against Cairns on January 19, Harrison (2 points) scored on his only field-goal attempt in three minutes as Brisbane defeated the Taipans 99-68. Cadee (18 points and 3 steals) and Gibson (17 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals) led the Bullets, while Trimble (23 points) was Cairns’ leading scorer.

Patterson (17.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals) became Brisbane’s leading scorer and earned All-NBL First Team honours, while Gliddon (13.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals), Bairstow (11.6 points and 5.8 rebounds), Te Rangi (9.9 points and 3.1 rebounds), Hodgson (9.6 points and 6.1 rebounds) and Cadee (8.3 points and 4.1 assists) formed the core of the rotation. Te Rangi was named both the NBL’s Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year as Brisbane finished 14-14 and claimed fourth place on points percentage.

There was no exit from Brisbane following the season, with Harrison remaining part of the Bullets’ program. He joined the Nelson Giants for the 2019 New Zealand NBL season during the Australian offseason, where he continued his development before returning to Brisbane for 2019/20.

Harrison did not play when Perth opened the semifinals with an 89-59 win over Brisbane behind Cotton (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists), White (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Kay (18 points and 10 rebounds), while Gliddon (18 points and 4 rebounds), Hodgson (10 points and 7 rebounds) and Patterson (9 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Bullets.

Harrison again did not play in game two, where Patterson (19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals), Hodgson (15 points and 2 blocks) and Bairstow (12 points and 7 rebounds) led Brisbane, while White (24 points), Cotton (19 points and 10 assists) and Kay (16 points and 15 rebounds) carried Perth to an 84-79 victory and completed the 2-0 sweep.

2019/20
After returning to the playoffs the previous season, Brisbane entered 2019/20 without Adam Gibson (to South East Melbourne), Cameron Bairstow (to Rytas Vilnius), Makoto Hiejima (to Link Tochigi Brex), Nnanna Egwu (to Earth Friends Tokyo Z) and Stephen Holt (to Sixt Primorska). Head coach Andrej Lemanis added Nathan Sobey (via Adelaide), Taylor Braun (via Hapoel Be’er Sheva), EJ Singler (via Panionios) and Callum Dalton (via Gold Coast), while Lamar Patterson re-signed with the club.

Harrison’s best game from Brisbane’s opening weeks came against Illawarra at the WIN Entertainment Centre on October 6, where Harrison (2 points and 2 rebounds) played just over five minutes as the Bullets defeated the Hawks 90-81. Patterson (25 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and Sobey (17 points and 5 rebounds) led Brisbane, while Aaron Brooks (23 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) was Illawarra’s leading scorer.

Harrison (1.3 points across 6 games) remained a development player at the end of Brisbane’s rotation behind Matthew Hodgson and Will Magnay, playing only 18 minutes across the season. No specific injury was reported as the reason for his limited appearances during NBL20.

Harrison (0 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block) received another opportunity against Cairns at Nissan Arena on October 11 as Brisbane defeated the Taipans 90-74. Sobey (21 points and 5 assists) and Hodgson (14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) led the Bullets, while Scott Machado (16 points and 10 assists) was Cairns’ best.

Harrison’s highest-scoring game came against Illawarra at Nissan Arena on January 18, where Harrison (4 points) made both of his field-goal attempts in four minutes as Brisbane defeated the Hawks 106-77. Patterson (20 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and Hodgson (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals) led Brisbane, while Angus Glover (18 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) was Illawarra’s leading scorer.

Patterson (21 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.2 steals) led Brisbane in scoring, earned All-NBL First Team honours and finished third in MVP voting, while Sobey (16 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists) was the team’s second-leading scorer. Cadee (11 points) won the NBL Sixth Man award, while Hodgson (10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds), Magnay (8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks), Singler (7.8 points and 4.1 rebounds), Cameron Gliddon (6.9 points) and Braun (6.7 points) were the other main contributors. Magnay was elevated into the starting lineup during his breakout season and won the NBL Most Improved Player award.

Harrison did not play in Brisbane’s final game against Cairns at Nissan Arena on February 15, where the Bullets needed a large victory to remain alive in the playoff race and defeated the Taipans 124-88 behind Sobey (30 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals) and Gliddon (25 points, 3 assists, and 4 steals), while Majok Deng (20 points and 7 rebounds) led Cairns. Melbourne defeated South East Melbourne the following day, leaving Brisbane outside the playoffs in fifth place with a 15-13 record.

2020/21
After finishing fifth with a 15-13 record and missing the playoffs the previous season, Brisbane reshaped its roster under coach Andrej Lemanis. Cam Gliddon (to South East Melbourne), Lamar Patterson (to New Zealand), Reuben Te Rangi (to South East Melbourne), Will Magnay (to New Orleans), Mika Vukona (to Southern Districts), Taylor Braun (to Israel) and EJ Singler (to NZNBL) departed, while Anthony Drmic and Harry Froling (both via Adelaide), Tanner Krebs (via St Mary’s), Tamuri Wigness and imports Vic Law and Orlando Johnson were added.

Brisbane opened the season against Illawarra at Nissan Arena on January 16, where Harrison (0 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) came off the bench, while Sobey (19 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) and Law (17 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 block) led Brisbane, and Sam Froling (19 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) led the Hawks to a 90-84 win.

Harrison (5.2 points and 5.9 rebounds across 36 games) took on the largest role of his career to that point, starting 15 games and averaging 17.1 minutes. Alongside Hodgson and Froling, he helped Brisbane finish third in offensive rebounding and second in defensive rebounds. Harrison did not miss a game during NBL21, appearing in all 36, although he later revealed an elbow problem which would eventually require surgery had begun during the hub season as a stress fracture.

Brisbane showed what it was capable of during the NBL Cup against Illawarra on February 26, where Harrison (4 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) played 13 minutes as Law (29 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) and Sobey (18 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) led the Bullets, while Justinian Jessup (26 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) was Illawarra’s best in a 97-91 Brisbane win.

Brisbane then defeated defending champion Perth 95-92 on March 5, with Harrison (0 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist) playing 16 minutes, Sobey (31 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) and Law (23 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) combining for 54 points, while Bryce Cotton (29 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Perth.

Two days later Brisbane defeated top-of-the-table Melbourne 96-88, with Harrison (6 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) contributing off the bench, Hodgson (24 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block) producing his best scoring game of the season and Law (10 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks) recording his best rebounding performance, while Chris Goulding (21 points) led United.

Harrison’s best game of the season came against New Zealand at Nissan Arena on March 27, where he played almost 37 minutes and finished with 7 points, 16 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 3 blocks. Drmic (25 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Sobey (23 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals) led Brisbane offensively, while Tai Webster (27 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) led New Zealand as the Breakers won 81-76 in overtime.

A week later an undermanned Brisbane travelled to Sydney without Patterson, Law, Krebs and Drmic. Harrison (8 points, 18 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 blocks) collected a career-high 18 rebounds as Sobey (31 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block) and Cadee (11 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals) carried the scoring, while Craig Moller (20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks) led Sydney to a 90-71 win.

Brisbane’s roster had changed significantly by this stage, with Orlando Johnson released on March 18 and Patterson brought back (via New Zealand) while still recovering from the MCL injury he suffered with the Breakers. Law then suffered an ankle injury which was later revealed to be a torn tendon requiring surgery, ending his season after 16 games. Brisbane was 9-7 when Law made his final appearance but lost six of its next seven games to fall to 10-13, with BJ Johnson (via Long Island) later added for the playoff push.

On May 11, Brisbane rewarded Harrison’s increased role by signing him to a new two-year deal through the end of the 2022/23 season. “It’s great to have my future sorted,” Harrison said. “Being a local Brisbane guy and having all my friends and family here made it a relatively easy decision.”

Harrison’s best scoring game came against Cairns on May 26, where he came off the bench and finished with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 steal in 14 minutes. Sobey (21 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists) and Froling (20 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 steal) led Brisbane, while Mojave King (25 points) was Cairns’ leading scorer as the Bullets won 101-96 and remained in the playoff race.

Brisbane’s lowest point came against South East Melbourne on May 22, where Harrison (6 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block) played 16 minutes as the Bullets were held to a season-low 66 points. Drmic (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Patterson (11 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals) were Brisbane’s only double-figure scorers, while Yannick Wetzell (18 points and 9 rebounds) led the Phoenix to a 95-66 win.

Sobey (21.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists across 36 games) produced the best season of his career and carried Brisbane’s offence, while Law (18.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 16 games), Patterson (14.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.5 steals across 17 games), Drmic (10.1 points and 3.1 rebounds across 34 games), Hodgson (10.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 32 games), Cadee (9.5 points and 4 assists across 36 games), Froling (8 points and 4.9 rebounds across 36 games) and BJ Johnson (10 points and 3.7 rebounds across 11 games) formed the remainder of the main rotation. Brisbane scored 89 points per game but conceded a league-high 90.9 points per game.

Sobey was named to the All-NBL First Team and won Brisbane’s Leroy Loggins MVP and Members MVP awards, Cadee received the Players Player Award, Hodgson was named Defensive Player of the Year and Wigness received the Young Player of the Year award. Lemanis also announced he would leave Brisbane after five seasons as head coach, with James Duncan appointed as his replacement.

Brisbane won four of its final five games but had left its run too late to reach the postseason. The Bullets closed the season against South East Melbourne at Nissan Arena on June 8, where Harrison (3 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) helped Brisbane control the glass, while Patterson (19 points and 3 assists) and Sobey (16 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Bullets, and Mitchell Creek (17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) was the Phoenix’s best as Brisbane won 94-84 and finished sixth with an 18-18 record.

2021/22
After finishing sixth with an 18-18 record and missing the playoffs, Brisbane entered the season with Andrej Lemanis leaving after five years as head coach. The Bullets considered promoting assistant coach and former player CJ Bruton before appointing former Sydney Kings assistant James Duncan.

Vic Law (to Perth), Matt Hodgson (to Perth), Harry Froling (to Illawarra), Callum Dalton (to Melbourne) and BJ Johnson (to Orlando) departed, while Lamar Patterson returned and Brisbane added Robert Franks (via Lakeland Magic), Isaiah Moss (via Otago), Jack Salt (via New Zealand), Deng Deng (via Illawarra), Chuanxing Liu (via China), Next Star Tom Digbeu (via Lithuania) and development player Taane Samuel.

Harrison and Jason Cadee signed two-year extensions, keeping both players in Brisbane through the end of the 2022/23 season. “Being a local Brisbane guy and having all my friends and family here made it a relatively easy decision,” Harrison said.

Brisbane opened the season against league newcomer Tasmania at MyState Bank Arena on December 3, where Harrison (6 points, 11 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) started, while Sobey (24 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Franks (19 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led the Bullets, but Adams (20 points) helped the JackJumpers win their first NBL game 83-74 in overtime.

Harrison (6.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks across 17 games) started 10 appearances, averaged 19.6 minutes and shot 51 per cent from the field, providing Brisbane with rebounding, rim protection and finishing around the basket when available.

Harrison’s best scoring game came against Illawarra at Nissan Arena on December 19, where he finished with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks as Brisbane defeated the previously unbeaten Hawks 96-92. Sobey (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) scored nine points during the fourth quarter and Franks (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) also contributed, while Reath (15 points and 7 rebounds) led Illawarra.

His best all-round game came against Sydney at Nissan Arena on January 21, where Harrison finished with 9 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks as Brisbane recovered from a 19-point deficit to win 96-87. Sobey (30 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists) and Cadee (18 points and 5 assists) helped the Bullets outscore Sydney 31-15 during the fourth quarter, while Adams (33 points and 7 assists) led the Kings.

Two days later, Harrison played only 2:37 during Brisbane’s 97-73 loss to Sydney before leaving with a shoulder complaint. The injury kept him out of the January 26 game against Melbourne, but he returned against South East Melbourne three days later.

Harrison’s final appearance came against New Zealand on March 7, where Harrison (6 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal) played 11:59 as Brisbane defeated the Breakers 92-74. Franks (23 points and 10 rebounds) and Cadee (22 points, 9 assists, and 4 steals) led the Bullets, while Randle (20 points and 2 steals) was New Zealand’s leading scorer.

An ongoing elbow injury prevented Harrison from returning after the win. The problem had begun as a stress fracture during the 2020 hub season and remained painful after the fracture healed, with Harrison attempting to play through it before the pain became too severe. Brisbane ruled him out for the remainder of the season on March 30, causing him to miss the final 10 games and 11 games overall. Harrison underwent surgery after the season, where a cyst was discovered in the bone and two screws were inserted to reinforce the area. “Last season it was what it was and I tried to play through it. I got through some games, but at the end of the day I just couldn’t push through it anymore,” Harrison said.

data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClQZkthjhv2/" data-instgrm-version="14">

Brisbane reached the halfway point with a 5-9 record before injuries further disrupted Duncan’s rotation. Franks (18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds across 27 games) finished fifth in the NBL in scoring, while Patterson (16.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across 27 games), Sobey (16.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 12 games), Cadee (10.4 points and 5 assists across 28 games), Drmic (7.4 points and 3.3 rebounds across 26 games) and Deng (6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds across 28 games) were the other main contributors. Sobey missed 16 games with a knee injury, while Cadee finished fifth in the league for assists.

Brisbane finished as the league’s worst defensive team, conceding 89.3 points per game, and led the NBL with 14.6 turnovers per game. Franks received the Leroy Loggins MVP Award and Members’ MVP, Salt (2.9 points across 21 games) was named Players’ Player, Deng received Brisbane’s Defensive Player of the Year award and Liu (2.9 points across 23 games) won Young Player of the Year.

With Harrison still sidelined, Brisbane closed the season at Cairns Convention Centre on April 23, where Franks (30 points, 15 rebounds, and 1 steal) and Krebs (20 points) led the Bullets, while McCall (42 points, 10 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) produced the first 40-point, 10-assist game of the NBL’s 40-minute era as Cairns won 112-98 and Brisbane finished eighth with a 10-18 record.

2022/23
After finishing eighth with a 10-18 record during James Duncan’s first season as coach, Brisbane moved on from Robert Franks (to Adelaide), Anthony Drmic (to Adelaide), Deng Deng (to Illawarra), and Chuanxing Liu (to the Bay Area Dragons), while Lamar Patterson, Isaiah Moss, Jack Salt, and Tom Digbeu were not retained. Duncan added Aron Baynes (via Toronto), Tyler Johnson (via San Antonio), Devondrick Walker (via Rockingham), Harry Froling (via Illawarra), Gorjok Gak (via Nymburk), DJ Mitchell (via Gold Coast), and Kody Stattmann (via Virginia) to a returning group led by captain Nathan Sobey, Jason Cadee, and Tanner Krebs.

Harrison entered the final season of the two-year contract he had signed in May 2021, which kept him with his hometown club through the end of NBL23. “It’s great to have my future sorted,” he said after agreeing to the extension.

The centre had missed Brisbane’s final 10 games of the previous season after an elbow injury that began as a stress fracture during the 2020 hub campaign became too painful to continue playing through. Surgery reinforced the bone with two screws before a cyst was discovered and removed, with the operation ending more than two years of pain. “The pain that I was getting before was gone,” he said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brisbane Bullets (@brisbanebullets)

After not being used during Brisbane’s opening three games as Baynes, Gak, and Froling handled the frontcourt minutes, Harrison (5 points and 4.4 rebounds across 16 games) came off the bench in every appearance and averaged 13 minutes. He made 32 of his 39 field-goal attempts to shoot 82 per cent, providing efficient finishing above the rim, rebounding, and shot blocking as the Bullets lost their opening six games.

Harrison’s best game came at MyState Bank Arena on November 5, where he made all four of his field-goal attempts and finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal as Brisbane defeated Tasmania 74-72 and extended its winning streak to three games. Baynes (16 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks) and Sobey (14 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) led the Bullets, while McVeigh (17 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block) missed a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer.

Harrison suffered a knee injury at training during the week following Brisbane’s loss to Cairns on November 19 and was initially expected to miss six to eight weeks. The injury ruled him out of nine consecutive games from November 27 through December 29 before he returned at the beginning of January. Combined with the opening three games where he was not selected, this accounted for all 12 games he missed during the season.

Brisbane’s brief improvement did not stabilise the club. Walker (9 points across 5 games) was released, with Andrew White (via Büyükçekmece) joining as his replacement and White (7.7 points and 3.1 rebounds across 15 games) providing scoring from the bench. Duncan and Brisbane mutually parted ways after nine games with the Bullets holding a 3-6 record, before General Manager Sam Mackinnon coached three games on an interim basis and assistant coach Greg Vanderjagt took control for the remainder of the season. Reports of an untenable relationship between CEO Peter McLennan and Mackinnon added to the instability.

Brisbane reached its lowest point against Sydney at Nissan Arena on January 11, where Harrison (6 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block), Sobey (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists), and Johnson (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal) were unable to slow the defending champions. Cooks (20 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal) led the Kings to a 116-67 victory, with the 49-point margin becoming the largest during the NBL’s 40-minute era.

Johnson (15.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals) finished as Brisbane’s leading scorer per game, received the Members MVP and Players’ Player awards, and was a finalist for the NBL’s Sixth Man of the Year award. Sobey (15.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists) received the Leroy Loggins Trophy as Brisbane’s Most Valuable Player, Baynes (11.7 points and 7.8 rebounds) was named Defensive Player of the Year, and Cadee (11.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists) received the St Genevieve Partners’ Choice Award.

Mitchell (9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds), Krebs (8.3 points and 3 rebounds), White, and Froling (5.4 points and 4 rebounds) were the other main contributors, while development player Matt Johns received the Youth Player of the Year award. Three of Brisbane’s eight victories came against an Illawarra team that recorded the worst season in club history, with the club’s underachievement leading to another major roster and staff turnover.

After the season, Harrison re-signed with Brisbane on another two-year deal and became the longest-serving player on the roster. “It means everything to me staying in Brissy. I want to see this Club succeed and win a chip,” he said.

Brisbane closed its season against New Zealand at Nissan Arena on February 4, where Harrison (4 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal), Baynes (17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block), and Johnson (15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) pushed the Breakers into overtime, but McDowell-White (15 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals) helped New Zealand win 80-75 as Brisbane finished ninth with an 8-20 record.

2023/24
Brisbane entered Justin Schueller’s first season as head coach after finishing ninth with an 8–20 record and using three coaches during a turbulent 2022/23 campaign. Jason Cadee (to Adelaide), Tanner Krebs (to Melbourne), Gorjok Gak and Kody Stattmann (both to South East Melbourne), Rasmus Bach (retired) and Tyler Johnson departed, while Schueller added Isaac White and Sam McDaniel (both via Tasmania), Mitch Norton (via Perth), Josh Bannan (via Montana), Shannon Scott (via Cairns), Chris Smith (via Chiba Jets) and Next Star Rocco Zikarsky (via the Centre of Excellence).

Harrison re-signed with Brisbane on a two-year deal in March 2023, entering his seventh season with the Bullets and becoming the longest-serving player on the roster.

“This is a great signing for our Club now and into the future,” Schueller said. “Tyrell has shown that he is one of the most talented young big men in the league, and for him to lock back in as we move forward in the new direction with the Club is exciting. His shot-changing ability at the rim paired with his efficient ability to score are keys for us moving forward. It’s an exciting one-two punch with he and Baynsey together,” Schueller added.

Brisbane opened the season at Nissan Arena on September 29, recovering after Adelaide scored the first 15 points to win 86–71. Harrison (6 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks) provided rim protection from the bench, with Sobey (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Smith (15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) leading Brisbane, while Humphries (17 points and 7 rebounds) was Adelaide’s best.

Harrison (9.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 27 games) started 24 times and produced the best season of his NBL career. He moved into the starting lineup during Baynes’ five-game suspension and retained the position after his return, leading Brisbane in blocks and finishing second on the team in rebounding.

At Launceston’s Silverdome on November 4, Harrison (20 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) produced his best scoring game of the season, making seven of eight shots and all six free throws. He scored six consecutive points during Brisbane’s fourth-quarter comeback, with Sobey (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists) and Norton (10 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) providing support, but Doyle (24 points and 3 rebounds) led Tasmania to an 87–85 win that ended the Bullets’ three-game winning streak.

Harrison delivered the decisive defensive play against Illawarra at Nissan Arena on December 3, blocking Clark’s attempted lay-up on the final possession to secure a 78–77 victory. Harrison (10 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks) was joined by Smith (16 points) and McDaniel (11 points), while Clark (13 points and 9 rebounds) led the Hawks as Brisbane improved to 7–7.

His best rebounding performance came in Cairns on January 21, where Harrison (16 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 steals) recorded his only double-double of the season as Brisbane defeated the Taipans 102–84. Sobey (18 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Baynes (15 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block) supported Harrison, while Kuol (19 points and 4 rebounds) was Cairns’ leading scorer as the Bullets returned to a 12–12 record and remained in the finals race.

A season-ending hip injury to DJ Mitchell (5 points across 15 games) led Brisbane to sign three-time NBL champion Casey Prather (via Israel) in December. Prather (6.7 points and 3 rebounds across 7 games) returned to the NBL after spending two seasons sidelined by knee injuries.

Sobey (20.1 points and 4.4 rebounds across 27 games) remained Brisbane’s leading offensive player, while Bannan (11.9 points and 7.2 rebounds across 19 games), Smith (11 points across 27 games) and McDaniel (9 points and 4 rebounds across 28 games) provided the other main scoring options. Baynes (7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds across 23 games), Norton (7.1 points across 28 games) and White (7 points across 28 games) filled out the rotation. Sobey received the Leroy Loggins MVP Award, Norton won the H.A.B.I.T.S Player of the Year award, McDaniel was named Defensive Player of the Year and Bannan received the Youth Player of the Year award.

Brisbane entered its final game needing a win to secure a play-in position but fell 103–87 to New Zealand at Spark Arena on February 16. Bannan (29 points and 4 rebounds) and Sobey (16 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) led Brisbane, while Jackson-Cartwright (27 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) controlled the game for New Zealand, leaving the Bullets seventh with a 13–15 record and outside the postseason on percentage as Harrison (8 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) played 15:21 minutes in the loss.

2024/25
After finishing seventh with a 13–15 record and missing the NBL24 play-in tournament on percentage, Brisbane entered Justin Schueller’s second season with a renewed roster focused on returning to playoff contention. The off-season began with the surprise departure of long-time captain Nathan Sobey (to South East Melbourne), while Aron Baynes retired and Chris Smith (to Japan), Shannon Scott (to Taiwan), and DJ Mitchell (to England) also exited. “Really this decision wasn’t about Nathan, but how we can continue to move forward as a club and build a true contender,” Schueller said. “We needed to lean more into our culture and bring in winners who can help us grow. We can’t shy away from Nathan’s production, but we also know there’s other areas we must improve if we want to win a championship.”

Mitch Norton was elevated to captain, with Isaac White, Tyrell Harrison, Casey Prather, Josh Bannan, Sam McDaniel, and Rocco Zikarsky returning. Schueller added imports James Batemon (via Kiryat Ata) and Keandre Cook (via Crailsheim), Deng Adel (via Boulazac), Tohi Smith-Milner (via Adelaide), and Jarred Bairstow (via Tasmania), while Kye Savage, Tristan Devers, and Josh Kunen filled the development positions.

After Brisbane exercised Harrison’s NBL25 team option, the club extended its longest-serving player for another two years early in the campaign. He entered the regular season after averaging 17.3 points and 7 rebounds during an unbeaten NBL Blitz, winning the Ray Borner Trophy as tournament MVP while Brisbane claimed the Loggins-Bruton Cup.

Brisbane opened against New Zealand at HoopsFest in Perth on September 21, where Harrison (9 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) played 28:21 minutes as the Bullets recovered from a 26-point deficit before falling 91–87. Cook (25 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Prather (11 points) led the comeback, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright (20 points and 11 assists) controlled the Breakers’ offence.

Harrison (14.3 points and 9.7 rebounds across 20 games) established himself as one of the NBL’s most productive interior players, starting every game he played and shooting 64.5 per cent from the field. He averaged four offensive rebounds per game and gave Brisbane a consistent finishing and rebounding presence before his season was interrupted by injury.

Harrison’s best all-round game came against South East Melbourne on October 12, where he finished with 21 points, 17 rebounds, and 2 steals as Brisbane collected its first victory of the season, defeating the Phoenix 87–85 at John Cain Arena. Twelve of his rebounds came at the offensive end, equalling the record for a 40-minute NBL game, while Batemon (20 points) and Cook (15 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) provided support and Matt Hurt (24 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals) led South East Melbourne.

Against Cairns on November 2, Harrison (14 points and 20 rebounds) grabbed nine offensive boards as Brisbane recovered from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to win 92–88. Batemon (21 points and 6 rebounds) and Cook (18 points and 2 blocks) carried the perimeter scoring, while Rob Edwards (27 points) led the Taipans as the Bullets secured their third victory from four games.

Harrison’s best scoring performance came against Melbourne on December 8, where he made 12-of-13 shots and finished with 25 points and 6 rebounds. Prather (27 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Cook (27 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) helped Brisbane shoot 64 per cent from the field and defeat United 122–114 at John Cain Arena, while Ian Clark (24 points) led Melbourne as the Bullets snapped a 12-game losing streak against United.

Brisbane’s strongest stretch was disrupted when Batemon (15.5 points across 16 games) suffered a season-ending hamstring tear in December. A January head knock then left Harrison with post-concussion symptoms and ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign. The wider injury crisis deepened when three more Bullets were hurt on a slippery Gippsland court, prompting Schueller to admit, “I don’t know if we can field a side right now.” Josh Adams (via Maroussi), Emmett Naar (via Mackay), and Callum Dalton (via Luxembourg) were added to the depleted group, with Adams (10.7 points across 9 games) providing the greatest scoring impact.

Prather (21.3 points and 6.3 rebounds across 27 games) finished third in league scoring, won Brisbane’s Leroy Loggins MVP Award, and earned All-NBL Second Team selection. Cook (16.7 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.7 steals across 28 games) was Brisbane’s second-leading scorer and led the NBL in steals, while Bannan (13.2 points and 8.6 rebounds across 19 games) received the club’s Youth Player of the Year award.

Harrison finished as the NBL’s leading rebounder and received the league’s Most Improved Player award with 37 votes, finishing ahead of Owen Foxwell and Ben Henshall. Norton (7.4 points across 29 games) was the only Bullet to appear in every game and received Brisbane’s Defensive Player and Players’ Player honours, while White (6.6 points across 28 games) and Smith-Milner (5.1 points across 27 games) provided further rotation depth.

Harrison remained sidelined as Brisbane closed the season against Cairns at the Cairns Convention Centre on February 6. Cook (28 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals) and Prather (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) led the Bullets, but Taran Armstrong (28 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists) recorded a triple-double as the Taipans won 100–88 and left Brisbane eighth with a 12–17 record.

2025/26
After an injury-hit 12-17 season left Brisbane eighth and outside the playoffs, the Bullets released head coach Justin Schueller and appointed former senior basketball advisor Stu Lash for his first professional head-coaching role. Isaac White (to Adelaide), James Batemon (to Lleida), Josh Bannan (to Tasmania), Keandre Cook (to Lugo) and Rocco Zikarsky (to Minnesota) departed, while Lash recruited Jaylen Adams (via Sydney), Javon Freeman-Liberty (via Chicago), Alex Ducas (via Oklahoma City), Taine Murray (via Virginia), Jacob Holt (via Sacramento) and Lamar Patterson (via Ipswich).

After winning the NBL’s Most Improved Player award and representing Denver at the 2025 NBA Summer League, Harrison entered the first year of the two-year extension he signed in September 2024, which kept the longest-serving player on Brisbane’s roster contracted through NBL27.

The Bullets opened at Spark Arena on September 19, where Harrison (24 points, 15 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) shot 8-of-11 from the field and made all eight free throws as Brisbane defeated New Zealand 104-95. Prather (27 points, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Freeman-Liberty (17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) provided support, while Jackson-Cartwright (16 points, 5 rebounds, 12 assists, and 3 steals) was the Breakers’ best.

Harrison (14.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 25 games) remained Brisbane’s starting centre, starting 23 games and shooting 64 per cent from the field. He recorded 11 double-doubles, scored at least 20 points seven times and reached double figures in rebounds on 12 occasions.

His best game came at RAC Arena on October 15, where Harrison (27 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) made 13-of-18 field goals as Brisbane defeated Perth 110-93 in the Ignite Cup, ending a four-game losing streak and improving to 2-4. Prather (34 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Devers (15 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) helped the Bullets control the game, while Jones (19 points and 3 assists) led Perth.

Harrison (23 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks) produced another strong performance at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on December 27, making 10-of-15 field goals and hitting his first three-pointer of the season before powering a 15-2 fourth-quarter run that briefly put Brisbane ahead, but Melbourne recovered to defeat the Bullets 92-87. Freeman-Liberty (21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals) and Taylor (15 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) kept Brisbane close, while Goulding (19 points and 2 assists) led Melbourne.

His season was again interrupted by concussion after a head knock against Perth on New Year’s Day, with Harrison missing eight games before returning for Brisbane’s final two fixtures. The roster around him had already become increasingly unsettled, with Freeman-Liberty (13.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.7 steals across 9 games) released in October before later returning, Adams (12.8 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.4 steals across 13 games) cut, and Dakota Mathias (via Indiana) (11.8 points and 3.4 rebounds across 8 games) and Terry Taylor (via Stockton) (11.9 points and 6.4 rebounds across 17 games) added. Prather (24.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2 steals across 12 games) suffered a season-ending knee injury, while Patterson (9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.2 steals across 9 games) was ruled out with a hamstring injury before Lash stepped down following a 5-13 start and assistant Darryl McDonald took over on December 18.

Prather and Harrison were Brisbane’s two leading offensive players when available, with Freeman-Liberty, Adams, Taylor and Mathias also carrying scoring roles during different parts of the season. Ducas (8.5 points across 30 games) was the only Bullet to reach 30 appearances, captain Norton (7.5 points and 3.2 assists across 23 games) provided backcourt leadership, and Holt (9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds across 22 games) developed into a larger frontcourt role during Harrison’s absence. Harrison won the Leroy Loggins Medal as Brisbane’s club MVP for the first time, while Norton received the Players’ Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards and Holt was named Youth Player of the Year.

Brisbane missed the postseason and finished 10th with a 6-27 record, closing at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre against Sydney on February 20. Davis (31 points, 1 rebound, 8 assists, and 1 steal) led the Kings to a 117-77 win, while Maldonado (16 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Murray (13 points, 3 assists, and 1 steal) were Brisbane’s leading scorers as the Bullets ended the season on an 11-game losing streak, and Harrison (8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block) played 11:56.

Tyrell Harrison currently plays for the Brisbane Bullets and has played 165 games in his NBL career. He has averaged 8.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists since entering the league in 2017.

CURRENT CONTRACT:

Brisbane Bullets – 2 Year Deal (2025-27)