The Chicago Bulls exited the 2021-22 season with a transparent weak spot across the rim.
The Bulls have been one of many worst rebounding groups within the NBA, ending third-to-last in general rebounds (42.3 per recreation) and second-to-last in offensive rebounds (8.7 per recreation).
Middle Andre Drummond, acquired within the offseason, supplied an answer for the Bulls: himself.
“You will have the most effective rebounder of the previous century in your workforce,” Drummond mentioned after shootaround earlier than Wednesday’s recreation in opposition to the Indiana Pacers on the United Middle. “I take rebounding very critically.”
Drummond isn’t bluffing about his prowess: Nobody has outrebounded him within the twenty first century. He leads the NBA in rebounds per recreation since 2000, averaging 13.2 — almost two greater than his closest competitors, Dwight Howard (11.8 per recreation).
And whereas no participant is probably going ever to achieve the herculean feats of Wilt Chamberlain (22.9 profession rebounds per recreation) and Invoice Russell (22.5), Drummond ranks eleventh in NBA historical past — the one energetic participant ranked within the high 20.
“I do know that’s one thing this workforce was missing,” Drummond mentioned. “Our workforce now, we’re robust. We’re a really robust workforce. It’s getting right down to each one in every of us realizing that we are able to’t take these possessions calmly.”
After a Bulls season with little backup at heart, Drummond is a much-needed complement to All-Star Nikola Vučević.
Vučević is a mainstay for the Bulls offense, averaging 18.3 factors together with 13 rebounds per recreation this season. Drummond’s contribution is much less splashy, however his stat line Monday in opposition to the Boston Celtics mirrored his most popular means of taking part in: two factors, 12 rebounds.
Each gamers are extraordinarily acquainted on the court docket after a decade as opponents. Now that competitors drives them to construct a greater unit for the Bulls — though Drummond famous that he and Vučević hardly ever go full-out in observe.
“It’s not value preventing for in observe, now we have greater issues to fret about,” Drummond mentioned. “So there’s been instances the place I’ll let him go and vice versa. We’re not going to harm ourselves in observe.”
The competitors for minutes might push Drummond into one of the crucial environment friendly seasons of his profession. By the primary 4 video games, he was averaging 20.1 rebounds per 36 minutes — a extra correct metric for a bench participant than per-game statistics.
That’s a tough customary to keep up and the bodily put on and tear of the season is prone to eat away at Drummond’s effectivity. But when Drummond can keep that presence across the rim, the Bulls shall be higher ready to outlast opponents this season.
“I’m doing one thing proper,” Drummond mentioned. “I’m making the most effective out of my minutes.”
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