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Tobias Harris and Andre Drummond are winning big off the court

By Matthew Way

Apr 22, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; A detailed view of rally towels on the seats before the game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; A detailed view of rally towels on the seats before the game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Detroit Pistons young stars Tobias Harris and Andre Drummond made the news this past week for their efforts in the Detroit community.

The beginning of the Detroit Pistons season has seen its ups and downs, with the team winning 3 of its first 5 games. There’s been very little consistency on the court from game to game. Off the court, however, the Pistons are consistently winning… and in a big way.

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A week ago, Pistons owner Tom Gores confirmed that the Pistons are very close to a deal to move the team downtown. The move downtown is exciting news for downtown Detroit residents and businesses, who have seen a revitalization in the area thanks to revenue brought in by Comerica Park and Ford Field, and large investments made by Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. Pistons players are looking to continue those efforts through their work off the court.

This week, Tobias Harris helped organize a town hall meeting to promote discussion between the Detroit community and its police force. For those who have followed Harris’s career, his community work is not a surprise. He twice won a Community Enrichment Award for his community work in Orlando and he even went back to Orlando for a youth basketball clinic after he was traded to the Pistons last season.

And, while all of that community work is terrific, there is perhaps no more pressing issue in inner cities today than police brutality. In a time where many people on both sides of the issue would rather complain than work to fix the problem, Harris is doing the latter in a city that desperately needs it.

"“We have to have a firm understanding of both sides. They leave their house every morning not knowing if they’re going to come home alive. … That was said, and I think everybody really took into that also.”"

Harris’s favorite pick-and-roll partner, Andre Drummond, is following Harris’s lead and making a difference in the community in another arena. Earlier this week, Drummond was named an ambassador for the Special Olympics organization. Drummond, who has been involved with the Special Olympics since his rookie year, will now be a leading figure for the organization. Despite that status, Drummond said that it’s the relationships with the young athletes that keeps him coming back.

"“Anybody can shoot and throw the ball around. But when you get the time to really speak to them and hear their stories and see the kinds of personalities they have, it’s something you can’t really describe. You have to be there for the moment.”"

Between last year’s success and the impending move downtown, the Pistons are certainly hoping to re-gain the support that they had in the mid-2000s, when they consistently led the league in attendance. A successful team moving downtown would certainly help improve attendance numbers, but a team who contributes to the betterment of the Detroit community may draw more support for this young Pistons team than any single factor could.

Next: City of Auburn Hill ready to move on if Pistons move

If players like Harris and Drummond continue their outstanding community service, fans of the Detroit Pistons will have a lot to be proud of, regardless of how well the team performs on the court.

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