Andre Drummond will make an impact for the Chicago Bulls next season
Andre Drummond’s impact for the Chicago Bulls next season: Savvy veteran
Novice NBA fans might often wonder why the Golden State Warriors celebrate the contributions of Andre Iguodala. The stellar play of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson speaks for itself, and even casual basketball fans can see that Draymond Green does things on the basketball court that go beyond the stat sheet. However, Iguodala may have the occasional “DNP Coaches Decision” next to his name during a playoff run.
The reason Iguodala is celebrated is that he brings a high basketball IQ and plenty of intangibles to the team. As a 10-year NBA veteran, Andre Drummond can bring some of those same attributes to the Chicago Bulls.
Yes, every team needs All-Star-caliber players in order to succeed, but the Bulls already have that covered. Drummond is a guy whose been around the league, understands defensive schemes, and is comfortable with his identity as a player.
Although he’s only been to the playoffs four times, each of those experiences was unique. In 2016 and 2019, he made the postseason as part of overachieving Detroit Pistons teams that were just happy to be there. In 2021, he was part of a Los Angeles Lakers team that had high expectations due to the presence of Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Last season, he was on a Brooklyn Nets team that was surprisingly swept by the eventual Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics.
There are valuable lessons in each of these appearances, and coach Billy Donovan will make sure to let his newly acquired veteran draw upon these experiences to mentor young frontcourt players like Patrick Williams and Javonte Green.