Atlantic Notes: Drummond, Embiid, Whitehead, Quickley

With Joel Embiid missing a majority of the Sixers’ games so far, Andre Drummond has played an unheralded role, not just on the court but also by being a respected locker room voice, according the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey. Drummond signed a two-year, $10MM with the Sixers during the summer.

“I’m at a point now where I’ve done everything individually, accolade-wise,” Drummond said. “A lot of things that guys in this league haven’t done, I’ve done it already, individually. My goal now is to win. And whatever capacity that comes in, you know, I’m down to do for the team. Do I want to play more? Of course, who doesn’t want to play more? But that’s not best for the team right now.”

We have more from the Atlantic Division:

• Embiid’s latest injury was a right sinus fracture but he was able to rack up 34 points against Charlotte this week. Embiid said he’s stopping feeling sorry for  himself when he gets injured, Pompey writes. “A lesson that I learned is stop feeling bad about myself, live day by day, enjoy the good people around, the positive and not focus on the negative,” he said.
• Dariq Whitehead has only appeared in three games with the Nets this season but the 2023 first-rounder isn’t upset. He’s actually glad to be spending time with the NBA G League Long Island Nets, giving the forward an opportunity to play regular minutes. “I was very clear with my agent that I needed to continue to play,” he told Eric Slater of Clutch Points (hat tip to NetsDaily.com). “I knew we had some guys that were injured, some older guys, and I knew they were gonna come back and get back in the rotation. So I was very adamant with my agent that I needed to go back down to the G League and play. That was a big boost for me.”
• Immanuel Quickley is inching closer to a return after missing 17 games due to a left elbow injury.  The Raptors guard went through a light practice Saturday and he was a full participant in all non-contact elements, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet. He’ll know he’s ready to suit up again when he can throw all the one-handed passes a point guard needs with his left hand, Grange adds.