Andre Drummond may have entered a journeyman phase of his NBA career, but he’s trying to enjoy the experience, writes Mike Anthony of The New Haven Register.
Drummond signed a two-year contract with the Bulls this summer that includes a $3.36MM player option for the 2023/24 season. The 29-year-old center played for the Sixers and Nets last season, and Chicago will be his fifth team since 2020 after spending his first seven-and-a-half years with the Pistons.
“It’s like a field trip,” Drummond said Saturday during a visit to Connecticut for a youth basketball program. “I’ve moved around a lot. But I just control what I can control. For me, it’s kind of fun. You’ve got to look at it as a fun journey. Being in one place eight straight years, I loved Detroit. Detroit gave me the career I have today. To see different cities and be with different organizations, I’ve taken it as a fun time, experiencing different cultures.”
Drummond is coming off a disjointed season in which he had to adjust to a different role halfway through. He was comfortable as a backup to Joel Embiid in Philadelphia, but he was sent to Brooklyn in February as part of the James Harden deal. He became the Nets’ starting center and posted 11.8 points and 10.3 rebounds in 24 games despite playing just 22.3 minutes per night.
Drummond hopes to have several more years in the NBA and wants to keep playing as long as he can. The two-time All-Star has led the league in rebounding four times, and he told Anthony that he would like to be remembered as the best rebounder in the history of the league.
“I think I’m already there,” he said. “I’m on my way. By the time I retire, I’ll go down as the best rebounder ever — if not already.”
So does Kevin Durant
That title is held by The Worm.
Wilt retired averaging 30 pts and 23 rebs for a career……. search it.
Rodman was a better rebounder, Wilt was just tall.
Yeah …… follow another sport. Is my suggestion. Aretha just had big lungs.
Rodman was a great reb and defender. Also a high IQ player. Something he doesn’t get enough credit for. BUT in 14 yrs he avg 13.1 rebs and 7.3 pts. Rodman all he did was reb. Wilt Dominated offense and defense. If he played today. He’d be best Center in NBA. We have never seen the power of a Shaq. And the athleticism of a Hakeem. In a seven-footer to this day. That’s who Wilt was ……..
I really don’t care what you can spout off, Rodman is the best rebounder. Wilt wouldn’t have the stats he did in Rodman Era.
My favorite player ever is Rodman but this take is comical.
“This stage of his career” he’s been playing on multiple teams since 2019 – 3 years in a row, including age 26, 27, 28 – so he’s also still way too young for this narrative
Yeah !!!!! good luck with that.
Wilt – 23924, 14yr career
Drummond – 9519, 10yr career
Wilt came into league as a 23yr old rookie.
Drummond came in at 19yrs old.
(Wilt Chamberlain signed a $65,000 contract with the Harlem Globetrotters. Between 1958 and 1959, Wilt Chamberlain was in no-mans land. He left Kansas but due to the nature of the territorial pick, had to wait a year before the Warriors could officially select him and have him star on their roster.May 7, 2022)
Warriors signed him for 30,000 first yr. Then paid him 75,000 by time they traded him. Wilt went to Sixers cause Warriors had financial troubles. He was first player to sign for 100,000 with Sixers.
The Real GOAT ……..
All children love field trips!
I did NOT want him to sign that max contract extension in the summer of ’16.
My Pistons were in an awful spot (coming off an 8th seed season with no signs of truly competing) and I couldn’t see Drummond as a core piece. Even if he was the best guy on our team, he wasn’t worth $26M per season. I wanted us to cut bait and tank for a real rebuild.
But that was a terrible place to be in. No leverage so we were basically forced to give him that deal, which was instantly a negative-value contract, and guarantee hopelessness for another few years.
I just can’t believe he’s only 29.
Monroe only 31, bynum 34.
I would have guessed mid 30s
Andre Drummond is one of the best bigs in the league, great pick up for the Bulls who needed some help in the paint.
I’m amazed teams let this guy go, middling guards get max deals and the best rebounder in the league is on a two year deal.
I agree that reb is a big stat. He is best in the gm today. But he should work on his D. It’s not where it needs to be. For a starting Center in todays nba. Drummond should be better.
Sorry KnickfanAl, I missed the Wilt era. Rodman was the best rebounder I ever saw. To this day, the only jersey in any sport I have ever bought is a Rodman.
I feel Wilt’s legacy slowly gets chipped away each decade. I guess out of site, out of mind.
The guy did some ridiculous stuff on the basketball court during his era. Mind blowing stats.
He is in my top 2 or 3 ever to play.
Well Rodman would be punish by Wilt physically. He’s one of the strongest beast in history, and his athleticism is amazing too. Rodman is great but
I don’t think he can even beat Shaq if Shaq take it serious.
Thing that grinds my gears about Drummond is that he had the physical attributes and the opportunity to take his game to a consistently all pro difference maker but missed the boat. Heis an example of how someone will generally remain average player if they allow opponents to easily game-plan around your best skillset. Thus talk right here is a sums what got in his way- an seriously exaggerated sense of accomplishment fueled by a delusional ego. He would probably have been an end if the bench guy if it weren’t for the fact he still under 30 true center who still willing to get on the glass at a reasonable rate. This “getting high own supply”talk is very much indicative that his career is in Dwight Howard/Carmello Anthony/Allen Iverson/ Westbrook territory- nobody wants to try to coach or play with someone for long that isn’t self aware enough to stop being their own worst enemy.
Anyone taking Rodman over Wilt should stop watching basketball and then seek help for physical and mental unfitness.
That isn’t the argument, because it obviously wouldn’t be one. Arguing Rodman is among the greatest rebounders is not outlandish.
Who are these Wilt stans who hate Rodman so much? Calling Dennis Rodman one of the NBA’s best rebounders ever is a very widely-held opinion and with good reason.
I wouldn’t mind him back with the Sixers as a backup.
He seems like a good dude and teammate. The guy knows his role and accepts it. Solid enough player to carve out a few more years as long as the body holds up.
Almost like he is playing for the love of the game.