In three preseason video games with the Knicks after signing a veteran minimal deal in the offseason, Andre Drummond has already proven he still has some left in the tank as he gets prepared for his fifteenth season in the NBA.
Joining New York to be Karl-Anthony Towns‘ backup at heart following the departure of Mitchell Robinson, Drummond’s function figures to be restricted but still important. After all, last 12 months he averaged 19.5 minutes per recreation with the Philadelphia 76ers, his most since 2021-22.
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On Monday night time against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the 33-year-old had 4 factors, 4 rebounds, three blocks and a steal in 12 minutes off the bench, but it was beyond the stats that head coach Mike Brown discovered spectacular with the backup heart.
“The blocks are great, but I’m not a huge shot-blocking guy,” Brown admitted. “His communication right now is unbelievable. Usually your big is the one that sees everything out in front and so he’s usually your quarterback of your defense. A lot of bigs aren’t great talkers though. Like Draymond [Green] is one of the best in the league… and I thought Andre’s communication tonight – and it’s been good [so far] – but tonight it was off the charts.”
While Drummond’s vocalness on the ground did not lead to a Knicks win as they lost 122-104 (and, in reality, with Drummond on the court New York was outscored by 9 factors), it has Brown excited for the season.
“The blocks are good, him defending the pick-and-roll the right way, being big, there are a lot of good things that he did, but just watching him, and more importantly listening to him, man that got me really excited,” Brown said.
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It’s no shock that Drummond is a good communicator and unafraid to show it early on contemplating he’ll be on his seventh group when he debuts with the Knicks in the common season.
Following seven and a half seasons with the Detroit Pistons to start his profession after being drafted No. 9 general in the 2012 NBA Draft, Drummond has been a scorching commodity, getting traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and then the Los Angeles Lakers a 12 months later.
He then signed with the 76ers, was traded again to the Nets before spending two seasons with the Chicago Bulls and then touchdown in Philadelphia once again for two years.
The two-time All-Star is no longer the beast on the boards that he was for seven consecutive seasons, main the league in whole rebounds and offensive rebounds a number of instances, but at 6-foot-11, Drummond continues to be a dependable massive man that New York will lean on sometimes this season.
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Behind him are gamers like Mohamed Diawara and Pacome Dadiet, two younger gamers that aren’t precisely facilities but are “long” and hope to take the next step in their development this season — probably behind the tutelage of a veteran like Drummond.
In reality, Brown called both Diawara and Dadiet “eager learners” and needs to see them improve and impression the group this season.
“I thought [Dadiet] had a pretty good game. I thought he had a pretty good game the game before,” Brown said. “… Both [Dadiet and Diawara] are long, they’re obviously young and they’re talented and I’m gonna keep coaching them and they’re gonna keep getting better.”
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