Making his first start since joining the Bulls, Andre Drummond turned in an elite performance with 24 points and 25 rebounds in Tuesday’s win over Atlanta, writes Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. Drummond’s opportunity came because of an injury to starting center Nikola Vucevic, and he delivered his first 20-20 game in nearly three years. With Vucevic expected to miss several games, the 30-year-old center will continue to start for a while.
“My mentality is that I’m not a backup,” Drummond said. “I still believe I’m a starter in this league. But the position I’m in now, I take it and play it to the best of my ability.”
Drummond knew he was accepting a reserve role when he signed with Chicago in 2022, but he showed that he still has the skills that made him a two-time All-Star. He’s only averaging 14.3 minutes per game this season, but he was on the court for 39 minutes last night, putting up a monster stat line that included 10 offensive rebounds, three steals, two blocks and an 11-of-13 shooting performance.
“I’m really happy for him just because every day he comes in, he works,” coach Billy Donovan said. “He’s about the team. And a guy of his caliber and what he’s done in his career, he’s probably a guy, like he said, who deserves more minutes and could have played more minutes. But he always does what’s best for the team.”
There’s more from Chicago:
- The Bulls will use some small-ball lineups to help get through Vucevic’s absence, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Donovan gave 6’5″ Terry Taylor some minutes in the middle against Atlanta and indicated that Patrick Williams may also see time in that role.
- DeMar DeRozan is making an effort to get his teammates involved in the offense early in games, Johnson adds. DeRozan led the Bulls with 25 points on Tuesday, but he recorded four assists before hitting his first basket. “It makes my job easier going into the fourth quarter,” DeRozan said. “Those guys look to me to close out the game. Sometimes not necessarily scoring but play-making and trying to make the right decisions. It’s fun. There’s never a game where I feel like I gotta get up X amount of shots or whatever. I trust those guys. And I know when they give me the look, it’s time for me to do my part.”
- Donovan is turning to Dalen Terry to fill in for Torrey Craig while he recovers from a plantar fascia sprain, notes Annie Costabile of The Chicago Sun-Times. The second-year shooting guard was averaging 18.6 minutes per game over the last three contests prior to Tuesday. “He knows he’s got to get better,” Donovan said. “But I don’t want him totally focused on that. He’s going to play whether he’s missing or making shots. Even earlier on, when he was getting an opportunity to play, what impressed me was [that] his discipline has increased [his execution] on both ends of the floor.”
Drummond should be playing 25-30 minutes a night. Literally every fan knows this yet Donovan hasn’t figured that out.
They would need to trade Vooch for that to happen, and that might be the best thing is to trade Vooch and LaVine.
He’s on Chicago because no one wanted to pay him to be a starter. Literally, every fan knows this.
It would help if he ventured to the other side of the court every once in awhile. Defensively he’s absent.
he’s a hell of alot better than Vucevic on defense
It’s not just Donovan, but AK as well. There was never a reason to give Vucevic a fresh 3 years @$20 million per. Drummond is making just north of $3 million per.
Love Drummond, but his FT woes are why he’s become more of a backup as his career has gone on. He’s doing way better than he usually does this season, but 62% still isn’t good. When you’re a career 48% FT shooter, you can’t start against most teams.
Maybe he can break back into starting with this opportunity. He’s certainly better than a fair number of current starting Centers.
With this performance – he might have played his way off this team? Hope not!
Nobody set up
Under the O glass like the Big Drum!
This really shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, unless you just thought he wasn’t in the best shape and he couldn’t sustain the pace he’s been putting up over the course of a full game.
He’s been coming in all season long and he’ll average about 7 pts and 8 rebounds in 15-16 minutes. He’ll also turn the ball over once or maybe twice, but the value he brings in the offensive glass is top notch. Plus, he’ll even get a steal to mitigate one of those turnovers.
I’m not entirely sure what the stats say, but from my point of view, Drummond has been nothing but a positive force for the Bulls the past two seasons.
He may not be very good defensively, but he takes up enough space and has enough length to help clog the lane and alter shots around the basket. Plus, most importantly, he helps limit your opponents second chance opportunities, and that helps bring up his value towards playing winning basketball.
He’s likely being showcased for a trade, but I wouldn’t have any issues with the Bulls riding out the season with Drummond on their roster.
I think it is pretty obvious they need to trade away Zach LaVine. I mean, their defense certainly is much better without him, but it also seems like their offense just flows better without him.
Their offensive stats might not tell the same story, idk. To me, it just seems like more guys get involved, the ball doesn’t stick as much, there is more off-ball movement, and it helps keep everyone engaged.
Drummond is genuinely a good player. He’s got obvious limitations and weaknesses, but within his skillset he’s one of the best players available on a rate basis. #1 *all time* in career total rebound percentage, #2 in career offensive rebound percentage (yes, really). That alone is crazy, but combine that with really great team defense and enough individual defense to not become a target, he brings quality value in the right situations.
I couldn’t agree more, very well said.
Drummond is far and away still an extremely effective player. Even though, the NBA has partially gotten away from the “traditional big,” Drummond can help any contending team with his skillset.
It’s like you said, his game has a few warts, but he’s one of the very best at what he does. He can score, he gives your team several more second chance opportunities, he provides size around the basket, and he limits opponents second chance opportunities.
He’s also a very solid teammate, and he’s matured from his previous days in Detroit when some reports questioned his willingness to sacrifice and be a team player.
As a Bulls fan, I consider them lucky to have such a solid backup C, and if they don’t keep him, I really hope whichever team he lands on goes all the way.
Andre Drummond deserves more credit than he receives.
Crazy that Drummond is only 30. Feels like he’s been around forever. Guy deserves another chance to start.
Funny how I suggested Drummond end up at GSW in some weird trade package and everyone was quick to say he’s washed and he sucks and now he finally gets 1 start, 1 opportunity and he kills it and everyone says he should be a starter.
I’m not by any means saying he’s perfect especially for them. As I explained he would be huge for them in the rebounding game especially on the offensive end and all those boards if not dunked by him would likely lead to threes from Steph and Klay. I believe he’s 7 foot 1 and just that size alone is exactly what they need. Looney provides the defence but his 6’8/6’9 frame just isn’t big enough. If they shared the centre role like GSW has in so many times in the past with guys I think they’d be so much better off. Each guy getting about 23 minutes a night.
Drummond would put up 12-12 in 20 minutes just from put back dunks and cutting to the rim.
I’d say 98% of posters here have trashed Drummond since he was traded by Pistons. Especially the clowns who think it’s all about shooting and small ball now.
Rebounding alone is one of most important stats there is. You can’t teach size ……
And apparently you can’t teach ball to the clowns here.