Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond, a two-time All-Star with the Detroit Pistons, is in the midst of his third season with the Sixers and has quietly been one of the team's most underrated players.
Andre Drummond first joined the Sixers ahead of the 2021-2022 NBA season, appearing in 49 games and averaging 6.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets when the Sixers acquired superstar guard James Harden, but had been an impressive backup to Embiid during his first stint in Philadelphia.
Then, after two impressive seasons with the Chicago Bulls, the Sixers targeted him in free agency, signing him to a two-year, $10 million deal to reclaim his role as Embiid’s backup. He was coming off a season where he averaged 8.4 points and 9.0 rebounds a night for the Bulls while shooting 55.6% from the field. However, the Sixers' season quickly fell apart due to injuries, and Drummond was no exception.
The veteran big man only appeared in 40 games for the Sixers last year as the Sixers collapsed. He shot only 50.0% from the field that year, his lowest since the 2020-2021 season with the Cavaliers and the Lakers, and averaged 7.3 points and 7.8 rebounds a night. Drummond clearly struggled due to poor team play and injuries that kept him from being his usual efficient self. The Sixers finished the season with a 24-58 record, placing 13th in the Eastern Conference.
This led to some trade speculation in the offseason, with many calling for the Sixers to dump his $5 million salary in order to retain key players in free agency. However, the Sixers opted for continuity, choosing to have faith in the former Piston, and they have since been proven correct in this decision through the first 24 games of this season.
This year, Drummond may not have the most exciting counting stats, but he has been absolutely vital in the Sixers' improvement. Playing in 23 games so far, Drummond is currently averaging an impressive 7.3 points on 54.0% shooting from the field, as well as snatching 9.3 rebounds a night, tied for his highest total in his past five seasons.
Drummond has also stepped up in Embiid’s absence much more this season than last. This year, in 11 starts, Drummond has averaged 10.1 points and 11.8 rebounds on 55.7% shooting, playing over 27 minutes a night. Last year, in 23 starts, he averaged only 8.4 points and 9.4 rebounds on a dismal 48.5% shooting.
He has also taken it upon himself to add another shot to his repertoire this season: corner threes. At this point in the season, Andre Drummond is shooting a respectable 37.9% from beyond the arc on 1.3 attempts per night. Both of these are career highs for him (minimum three three-pointers attempted in a season). Right now, Drummond has already made 11 three pointers on the season, six more than his previous career high set in the 2018-2019 season.
While Andre Drummond may not be the flashiest player in the league at this point in his career, his improvements this season are nothing short of incredible. His performance this year is a night-and-day difference from last, and he has officially reestablished himself as one of the best backup centers in the league through his stellar play both coming off the bench and as a starter. The Sixers should be extremely happy that they stuck with the veteran big man this offseason and should consider him one of their most important role players for the remainder of the season.
