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NBA: November’s Most Pleasant Surprises

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 16, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard C.J. McCollum (3) warms up before the game against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard C.J. McCollum (3) warms up before the game against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 17, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Detroit won 104-99. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Detroit won 104-99. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons

Position: Center

Age: 22

Experience: 4th Season

Slash Line: .532/.000/.382

Season Averages: 35.0 MPG, 18.4 PPG, 16.9 RPG, 5.9 ORPG, 1.8 SPG, 1.6 BPG

If you merely play fantasy basketball, you know how productive a rebounder Andre Drummond is. If you follow the NBA with a magnifying lens over every little development, you know how inconsistent and unpolished Drummond has been.

In just one month, Drummond has thrust himself into the, “Best center in the NBA,” conversation—and it’s much bigger than numbers.

Drummond wasn’t pulling out moves like that before 2015-16.

Drummond’s rebounding has reached extraordinary heights, and that is the catalyst for everything else that he does. Beyond the awe-inspiring numbers—four games with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds, for instance—is a genuine development that suggests sustainable star-caliber play.

That includes his consistency in transition, where Drummond is doing a much better job of filling the lane and anticipating passes.

Offensively, Drummond used November to emerge as Stan Van Gundy’s new Dwight Howard. He already has aspects of his game that are superior to what Howard provided the Orlando Magic with, albeit with less of a developed prowess in the pick-and-roll.

Drummond will need more than one month before he officially becomes the best center in the NBA, but November was a pleasant surprise from the 22-year-old.

Next: Points On the Board