CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers have been one of the more active teams in free agency with the additions of Paul George, Andre Drummond, Caleb Martin, and Eric Gordon. All three of those players are expected to make big contributions to the Sixers.
Drummond, especially, will have an important role for the Sixers. He will be the backup to Joel Embiid and will fill an important need off the bench: rebounding.
The Sixers were outrebounded by the New York Knicks 273-247 in the 6-game loss in Round 1. The Knicks averaged 45.5 rebounds per game compared to 41.2 for Philadelphia. That’s a big deficit in a series that was decided by just one single point across the six games.
That’s something Drummond noticed.
“I think that’s why I’m here — to eliminate a lot of those issues,” he laughed. “I’m happy to be valued in that sense, to see the bigger picture. Not just be here for the season, but see my skill set for the playoffs. I’m excited for that.”
Coming off the bench for the Chicago Bulls in the 2023-24 season, Drummond averaged 9.0 rebounds per game in 17.1 minutes per game. He posted a robust 29.3% rebounding percentage and that’s something he knows what he can bring to the Sixers.
“I don’t think it’s ‘think’ at this point,” Drummond said of what he thinks he can bring to Philadelphia. “It’s a ‘know’. I know what I bring to the table. I think this staff knows what I bring to the table and this team knows what I bring to the table so it’s great to be honored in that sense. To know what I’m wanted somewhere.”
For a team that had issues rebounding the postseason loss to the Knicks, having a guy like Drummond aboard now should fix those problems.
“I pride myself on that,” he said of his rebounding. “I set out from that from my rookie year is to be the best there ever was to do it and I still stand on that to this day. I’m the best rebounder to ever play this game and I’m gonna make sure I leave that mark.”
Andre Drummond on if he has any nostalgia coming back to Philly and if he watched the Knicks series and the rebounding issues Philly had for his return #Sixers pic.twitter.com/aJL5JAQ476
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) July 9, 2024
Drummond, of course, played for the Sixers in the 2021-22 season before he was shipped to the Brooklyn Nets in the big James Harden deal. He expressed in the past how disappointed he was in the deal and how he wanted to remain with the Sixers. Now, he’s ready to be back and help Philadelphia.
“It feels like home,” he smiled. “It feels good to be back. I’m excited to try again and be here for the entire journey. I’m looking forward to what’s to come.”
For Drummond, this is the place he feels as if he needs to be.
“Yeah, it’s like full circle,” he said. “It’s full circle. Teetering between trade deadlines–hearing Philly this and Philly that. To have the opportunity to be back here again and play in front of these fans, I’m grateful and I’m excited.”
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