Andre Drummond will be competing in his second All-Star game as a member of Team LeBron tonight. Here are three ways he can win the coveted All-Star Game MVP.
Earlier this month, Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond was named as a reserve on Team LeBron for the 2018 All-Star Game following an injury to incumbent All-Star, Washington Wizards guard John Wall.
Although Drummond cemented himself as the league’s best rebounder and has showed significant strides in various facets of his game, including from the free throw line, so many speculated as to why he was originally passed over when the All-Star selections were announced.
Was the snub because of team success?
The Pistons are currently sitting on the outside-looking-in when it comes to playoff aspirations this season, and were in the midst of a losing streak prior to the trade that brought Blake Griffin to the Motor City.
However, the New York Knicks have a worse record than the Pistons but that didn’t stop Kristaps Porzingis from getting in ahead of Drummond.
But Porzingis has a quality that Drummond doesn’t have yet:
Recognition
Not only have the New York Knicks have had more national TV broadcasts than the Pistons, Porzingis has become a recognizable figure, both on social media and on the court.
Andre Drummond has a golden opportunity tonight to showcase his improved skills and demonstrate why he should have been an All-Star from the get-go by doing something no member of the Detroit Pistons has done in 32 years.
Win an All-Star Game MVP.
Here are the three things Andre Drummond needs to do in order to win that prestigious honor:
Change the Narrative
Around the league (including the Detroit fan base), Drummond has been labeled as “lazy” and many have speculated on how low his ceiling may be because of that moniker.
Combine the narrative with the fact that the Detroit Pistons are rarely featured on a national scale, both in the news and on broadcasts, and it’s clear that Drummond has been dealt an unfair hand of cards.
However, “lazy” Drummond is old news.
Post-sinus surgery Drummond has been visually more active on the floor but due to the lack of exposure, many haven’t seen that side of him yet.
During his time on the court tonight, Drummond needs to run the floor in transition and be looking to punish the rim with every chance he gets.
In a game where defense is sparingly played, Drummond will also have an opportunity to showcase his newfound ability to protect the rim. Reminiscent of the Ben Wallace era, Drummond can shock the world by swatting errant shots into the stands and let the “oohs and ahhs” of the crowd fuel his active performance.
Shaking the lazy moniker will not only do wonders for his reputation this weekend, but also his reputation around the league going forward.
Rebound EVERYTHING
Andre Drummond is an All-Star primarily because he is a basketball vacuum. Plain and simple. He’s not only leading the league in total rebounding and defensive rebounds, he trails only Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams in offensive rebounding.
However, rebounding alone won’t create enough of a “wow” factor.
In order to really make a difference, Drummond will need to corral any misses and put them back with force. With very few people boxing out in All-Star games, Drummond should have ample opportunities to make some highlight plays through some high-flying putbacks.
Putbacks with gaudy rebounding numbers should create enough of that shock-factor that’s necessary in order to win All-Star Game MVP.
Be a Playmaker
Aside from the improved free throw shooting, Drummond has significantly improved his ability to make plays for those around him.
Pistons fans have always known that Drummond has had the ability to pass. He occasionally made the impressive down court pass, or sometimes a pass that threads the needle better than some guards who he shares the floor with.
He’s averaging a career-high number of assists per game, but that doesn’t tell half the story. Drummond WANTS to pass the ball. He WANTS to make that highlight play. He WANTS to drop dimes to his teammates around him.
With this in mind, Drummond is probably salivating at the idea of playing with guys who can punish the rim and run with him in transition like Team Captain LeBron James, Russell Westbook, and Anthony Davis. He’s also surrounded by shooters like Kevin Love, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving.
If there’s any time to shock the NBA world with passing abilities, that time is tonight.
If he impresses the crowd with passes, rebounds and putbacks, and continues to showcase high levels of energy throughout, he deserves to bring the All-Star Game MVP trophy back to the Motor City.