In three preseason games with the Knicks after signing a veteran minimum deal in the offseason, Andre Drummond has already shown he still has some left in the tank as he gets ready for his 15th season in the NBA.
Joining New York to be Karl-Anthony Towns’ backup at center following the departure of Mitchell Robinson, Drummond’s role figures to be limited but still important. After all, last year he averaged 19.5 minutes per game with the Philadelphia 76ers, his most since 2021-22.
On Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the 33-year-old had four points, four rebounds, three blocks and a steal in 12 minutes off the bench, but it was beyond the stats that head coach Mike Brown found impressive with the backup center.
“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 floor didn’t lead to a Knicks win as they lost 122-104 (and, in fact, with Drummond on the court New York was outscored by nine points), 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.
It’s no surprise that Drummond is a good communicator and unafraid to show it early on considering he’ll be on his seventh team when he debuts with the Knicks in the regular season.
Following seven and a half seasons with the Detroit Pistons to begin his career after being drafted No. 9 overall in the 2012 NBA Draft, Drummond has been a hot commodity, getting traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and then the Los Angeles Lakers a year later.
He then signed with the 76ers, was traded again to the Nets before spending two seasons with the Chicago Bulls and then landing 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, leading the league in total rebounds and offensive rebounds multiple times, but at 6-foot-11, Drummond continues to be a reliable big man that New York will lean on occasionally this season.
Behind him are players like Mohamed Diawara and Pacome Dadiet, two young players that aren’t exactly centers but are “long” and hope to take the next step in their development this season -- possibly behind the tutelage of a veteran like Drummond.
In fact, Brown called both Diawara and Dadiet “eager learners” and wants to see them improve and impact the team 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.”