Here’s the thing to keep in mind: Andre Drummond has been around the block a time or six. This isn’t his first rodeo, but more like his 15th. Drummond has played 967 games in his NBA career, and 28 more in the playoffs. He’s been on two All-Star teams. He’s led the league in rebounds four times, in offensive boards seven times.
Here’s one for you: He was once named to the All-NBA third team. Since 1946, 4,374 players have played at least one NBA game. You know how many have been named All-NBA? That would be 303. That’s just over half of 1 percent. Yes, Andre Drummond arrives in New York City — not far from Mount Vernon, where he was born — with a full résumé at age 33.
He is not going to fear filling Mitch Robinson’s size 15s. He is not going to worry about filling Mitch’s old No. 23 jersey. He is not going to cower at replacing an uberpopular piece of perhaps the most popular New York sports club of a generation. Maybe if he were a kid. Maybe if he were a shrinking violet. He is neither.
“I’m able to rebound the ball at a high clip, still,” he said. “And I’m a very good locker room guy.”
