'Never seen anything like it': Brendan Fevola shares first-hand experience of wild NBL brawl

Former AFL star Brendan Fevola has shared his view of the wild NBL melee that saw four spectators removed from John Cain Arena on Sunday.

Fevola was seated courtside with his family for Melbourne United's 113-93 win over the Adelaide 36ers and admitted that he was almost swept up in the heat of the dispute.

In the fourth quarter, a physical altercation broke out after Adelaide players clashed with a spectator.

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Speaking on his radio show The Fox's Fifi, Fev & Nick, Fevola on Monday conveyed that the atmosphere at John Cain Arena was "heated" even before the brawl erupted.

"It was a bit heated for a good quarter-and-a-half," he said.

"I said to my girls, 'I'm going to get into this bloke', and Lulu said, 'Please don't Dad because he looks so angry'."

The incident started as a scuffle between 36ers forward Montrezl Harrell and opposing point guard Shea Ili after Harrell was blown for an offensive foul while driving to the basket.

As Harrell kicked out at Ili while both players were sprawled on the floor, players from both sides came together.

Harrell then took a swipe at Ili — shoving his face.

"It was a scuffle, and [Harrell] punched one of our [Melbourne United] players, Shea Ili, and it was on," Fevola said.

"It was on more than the Mike Tyson fight [against] Jake Paul."

The players then returned to their respective benches while the referees reviewed the play with Harrell and Ili preparing to be ejected for their physical altercation.

According to Fevola, the group of United supporters sitting in the 'Hollywood seats' then chirped at Harrell, which the former NBA player took exception to.

"I'm thinking, '[Harrell's] going to go nuts here'," Fevola said.

"He's looking at a video screen to see if he's going to be ejected [and] they got him and then the supporters next to the coaches' box started chirping, and then they got up, and it was on: fans versus players.

"The Adelaide 36ers punched on with the [fans]. Players, coaches, it was on.

"I don't think I've ever seen anything like that. Obviously [I've seen it] with players, but never with fans."

Players, coaches and fans were soon all involved as Adelaide staffers fought to restrain their own.

Tensions reached boiling point after guard Dejan Vasiljevic appeared to be shoved by an attendee after he stepped over the advertising barrier.

Asked who was at fault, Fevola explained that both the spectators and players had acted out of line, though fans should never lay a hand on the players.

"They're both to blame, but you can't touch the players," he said.

"As much as I want to pot [Harrell], whatever he did, whatever he said, it's always the spectator's fault."

Harrell later refused to apologise for his role in the altercation.

"But I'm the bad guy right I literally try [to] calm down but then mf want [to] try the tuff [sic] so now I'm riding for my team sorry not sorry," he wrote on X on Sunday.

Fevola confessed that he nearly became involved in the squabble but his daughters had urged him to keep quiet throughout the game.

"It was crazy. My girls were like, 'Aren't you glad now Dad that you didn't chirp him because that would have been you in the fight'," he said.

"I hope I wouldn't have, but you never know."

The NBL has launched an investigation into the incident.