For Andre Drummond, as long as the game keeps changing, so will he

There are some things that are just different when it comes to getting Sixers fans to a higher level of excitement.

There's a long step-back three from Tyrese Maxey, or rookie VJ Edgecombe rising above all others on the floor to deposit a dunk or grab a rebound, or a hot-streak from Paul George when he hits four or five consecutive jump shots. 

Those are all understandably arena-shaking moments at times. But there is one more now, that makes fans burst out of their seats in anticipation and wildly cheer when it comes to fruition, and that's when center Andre Drummond sets up for what has now become his patented corner three-point attempt.

It happened again on Wednesday at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, when the Sixers were putting the finishing touches on the Orlando Magic in their Play-In Tournament matchup. 

A tough, physical battle throughout was tilting the Sixers way in the last minute as they spread the lead out to nine points with a minute to go. After a Magic miss, Kelly Oubre Jr. found Drummond set up on the right baseline, wildly clear from any Orlando defender. Drummond caught the pass with his massive hands, got into his shooting stance and let fly. Net was all that was hit, the Sixers lead grew to 12 and the noise level in the arena to its highest pitch all night in what became a 109-97 victory, propelling them to a first round matchup with the second-seeded Celtics starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Boston.

"If you would have told Andre Drummond that at 18 years old, playing for Detroit, that he would make a dagger three (laughs), I don't think that he'd believe you," he said. "A lot of work that I've put into it."  

Sunday's was his 32nd three of the season, far surpassing the total of 18 he had made in his previous 13 years in the league. His bread and butter is still his rebounding, and he knows it. But Drummond, now 32, knows that in order to stay in the league as long as he has, you have to do what's asked and demanded.

He did that from the beginning of his career. I was sitting courtside when he played his first Summer League games after being picked by the Pistons with the ninth overall pick in the 2012 draft. His size was undeniable and, just like now, his athleticism was jaw-dropping for someone that size. His size, to some, was an issue, as it was suggested in his draft profile that Drummond needed his weight to turn into "good weight."

I remember the next time I saw him during the regular season, he had already done that and the transformation of his body was eye-opening. That commitment to his craft has led to close to 1,000 NBA games, four rebounding titles and an immeasurable amount of respect from coaches and his peers.

His situation here in Philadelphia this year has been a strange one, to say the least. He's bounced from starter, to sub, to bench cheerleader, back to starter and now subbing again behind Adem Bona as Joel Embiid recovers from his recent appendectomy. Drummond handles it all like the pro that he is, doing everything with full effort. There isn't much he hasn't seen during his career, and he knows that adapting in the only way to approach it.

"I feel like when I was 18 and playing in the Summer League, my game was mid-range jump shots, rebounding, blocking shots and being an energy guy," Drummond recalled. "Three-point shots is something that I've had throughout my life, I just never honed in on it. I just focused in on the one thing that I knew was going to help me make the most money and stay the longest in the NBA, which was rebounding.

"It's been a roller-coaster ride, because the league changes every year. There was a period of time where teams were playing all smalls, playing small-ball five, and I had to adapt to that, being able to switch one through five. And now teams are going back to playing big again, too. I've been able to stay the course and stay with the times of basketball while elevating my game as well."

There will always be challenges to an NBA player presented by an opponent. Drummond is always up for that task. But it appears that his biggest challenger is himself, a battle that keeps him always wanting to improve his game.

"My favorite years of basketball were from 2012 to, like, 2019," Drummond said. "It was more physical, teams played two bigs. The game was a lot more simple and less (long pause) drama. Then, the main focus was basketball. You can take that however you want. I call it a reality TV show. But I'm just here to play basketball.

"I always find joy in elevating my game, find new ways to get better and do things to stay around the league. Obviously, I want to play for a very long time. I'm not ready to just sit down and warm somebody's bench. I still want to elevate my game and find new ways to make myself serviceable for teams."

He has certainly done that for his current team. He snares 8.4 rebounds a game though he plays just over 19 minutes. He provides terrific rim protection and is the steadying factor when the Sixers get in their rebounding ruts, which they do often. And now, he is the energy-provider for both teammates and fans when he plants those two big feet near the baseline, just outside the three-point arc, and lets fly.

"Nick (Nurse) got mad at me last year for not shooting enough," Drummond said. "I never had a coach tell me that in my career. They want me to shoot the shot because they know I can shoot it and I've worked on it for years. He's seen me shoot the ball when he was my coach for All-Stars, so we could joke about it all the time. So, it was something that I had to change in my mind to build the confidence that I can make the shots, and when they're there, take them when they're available."

It's become a fun part of a career that has made him a two-time All-Star. But it's also another necessity that Drummond has added to his game because it is just the way the sport is played now. And if he has his way, he'll be playing it for quite some time.

"No, not yet," said Drummond when asked if he's become a bit reflective on his career. "I'm still in a place now where I feel I still have so much left to give. I'm not at a point where I'm reminiscing, yet. I still have a lot more things to do. I have a lot more energy in the tank and I'm going to take it as far as I want to."