NBA: 10 candidates for bounce-back seasons in 2017-18

3. Andre Drummond

The Detroit Pistons were easily one of the most disappointing teams in the Eastern Conference last year, if not the most disappointing. A big chunk of that ties into Reggie Jackson‘s injury to start the year and the rust that plagued him upon his return, but Andre Drummond took a significant step backward as well.

In 2015-16, Drummond looked like a perennial All-Star in the making, averaging a monstrous 16.2 points, 14.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game at just 22 years old. Last season, those numbers slipped to 13.6 points, 13.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.

Part of that had to do with Jackson’s absence/lackluster play, since Detroit’s point guard was responsible for a lot of his success on the offensive end in the pick-and-roll. However, Drummond simply didn’t look engaged some nights — which head coach Stan Van Gundy called him out for on several occasions — and failed to take the next step forward.

This year, the Pistons are looking to bounce back as whole in a weakened Eastern Conference. At age 24, it’s time for Drummond to start looking like the leader and franchise player Detroit needs him to be.