Henri Drell

Henri Drell's Biography

Henri Drell was born on April 25, 2000, in Tallinn, Estonia. Today, he is admired as a professional basketball player for the Rip City Remix of the NBA G League. Moreover, he’s the second Estonian player who has had the honor of playing in the NBA. He strides at an extraordinary height of 2.05 meters (6 ft 9 in) and flaunts his game as a dominating shooting guard and small forward. More than his club career, Drell has made a significant impact for his country, proudly representing the Estonian national basketball team in the international arena.

Drell’s journey with basketball began when he was only nine years old when he first picked up the ball and became part of a small club in Estonia. This early experience nurtured his skills and passion for the sport, leading him to join the BC Kalev/Cramo youth team. Seizing bigger opportunities, he moved to Germany in July 2016 to play for Brose Bamberg in the German Under-19 Youth Bundesliga (NBBL).

In May 2019, Drell led his team, TSV Breitengüßbach, to a silver medal victory. A few months later, he was selected to participate in the coveted 2019 NBBL All-Star Game. His impressive performance in the tournament opened doors for him to play for Brose Bamberg’s U18 team at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT) in Munich. Here, Drell showcased exemplary skills and led the tournament in scoring with an average of 27 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists per game, and a laudable Performance Index Rating of 26.3. Later in June, he proudly represented Estonia in the NBA Global Camp held in Treviso, Italy.

Drell returned to his roots in September 2015 to join his hometown team, Audentes/Noortekoondis. However, the following year marked a significant turning point in his career when he signed a six-year-lucrative contract with the German club, Brose Bamberg. He made his professional debut on March 18, 2019, adding two points to his team’s emphatic win over Eisbären Bremerhaven with a score of 100-74. Although Drell mainly played with Baunach Young Pikes, the farm team of Brose Bamberg, in the German 2nd Division (ProA), his performance showed a marked improvement over the previous season with averages of 13.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. This fabulous performance by Drell made him the ProA Youngster of the Month in February 2019.

On April 19, 2019, he declared for the NBA Draft, only to withdraw later to enhance his Draft stock for the 2020 NBA Draft. Continuing his journey, Drell signed with Italy’s Victoria Libertas Pesaro of the Lega Basket Serie A in July 2019. After a promising start, the season was prematurely suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The subsequent season saw Drell making major improvements, especially on defense and shooting, after he played 24 games and started in 12 under coach Jasmin Repeša. He shot 40% from the three-point line and 50% from two-point range. This impressive performance ensured the team’s qualification for the Italian Basketball Cup after ten years. During the tournament, Drell broke out with his LBA career-high recording 23 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the field, with five rebounds, helping his team win the quarter-finals. The team advanced to their seventh Italian Cup finals, but unfortunately, could not clinch the cup. Regardless, Drell was named “Best Offensive Player” in the tournament.

After concluding the season with Victoria Libertas Pesaro with a fantastic average of 12.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1 assist per game, Drell decided to part ways with the team in November 2021. The following year, he was acquired by the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League, which marked his NBA journey. In his exceptional rookie season, Drell entered the franchise records with the tenth most all-time blocks, despite playing just 29 games in the season. However, the turning point came when Drell signed an NBA Summer League contract with the Chicago Bulls.

Although Drell didn’t get drafted in the 2022 NBA draft, it didn’t bog down his spirits. He continued to perform, which led him to receive an Exhibit-10 contract from the Chicago Bulls. However, he was waived on the same day and rejoined the Windy City Bulls, ending the season on a high note, averaging 11.6 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.

In April 2023, he signed with French club Chorale Roanne Basket. However, his return to the NBA was always on the cards. He re-signed with the Chicago Bulls in September 2023, only to become a free agent the next month. He was soon picked by the Portland Trail Blazers, only to be waived shortly after. Finally, on October 28, he joined the Rip City Remix. He got his big break in the NBA game and scored 2 points with 2 assists when playing against Los Angeles Clippers on 14 March, making him the second Estonian player to play in NBA after Martin Müürsepp.

Drell’s illustrious career includes numerous international events too. He first represented Estonia in the 2016 FIBA U16 European Championship in Radom, Poland. His performance helped the national team avoid relegation, and he was also the top scorer of the team. He carried the same passion at the 2018 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship in Division B, leading his team to fourth place and being named to the All-Star Five. He made his senior team debut in a 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifier against Serbia. Drell’s performance was influential in the team’s victory and led Estonia to their third Eurobasket tournament of the century.

Born in a family with a rich basketball background, Drell’s passion for the sport came naturally. His father was a former professional basketball player for Kalev, and his mother and sister too were a significant part of the Estonia women’s national basketball team. Drell’s journey continues to inspire countless others, and his love for the game still burns brightly.