Andre Drummond Opens Up On Relationship With Joel Embiid: “I’m Gonna Push Him To Be Great”

Andre Drummond opened up on reuniting with Joel Embiid on the Philadelphia 76ers and how he intends to push Embiid to be the best.

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Credit: Fadeaway World

The Philadelphia 76ers brought back Andre Drummond this offseason as part of their team restructuring which also brought Paul George to the franchise. Drummond will be Joel Embiid‘s backup and allow Embiid to manage his health throughout the season instead of getting worn down and injured. Drummond opened up on his role on the 76ers, which includes pushing Embiid to be the best player he can be.

“I’m playing against the best center in the league every single day, so not only is he getting the best work out of me, vice versa — I’m getting the best work out of him because he’s challenging me, as well. And for me, he knows I’m not gonna ever back down from him.”

“And it’s been like that [since] I’ve been in Detroit. I think that’s really why he respects me, because no matter how good he is, he might have the upper hand on me but I’m gonna keep coming. I’m gonna push him to be great. I’m gonna push him to be the best player he can be, really to show the world why he is the best center to play this game.”

“He’s just a dominant player, he’s really just a super hardworking guy that really wants to be great. You can’t help but support a guy who is trying to do so much for a city or for a team. I’m glad I’m here to be able to alleviate some pressure for him and really win a lot of games.”

Drummond averaged 6.1 points and 8.8 rebounds in his last stint with the 76ers in 2021-22. He had a solid two seasons on the Chicago Bulls and was heavily pursued by teams in the winter for a trade, but the Bulls chose to keep Andre on their roster. He averaged 8.4 points and 9.0 rebounds over the 2023-24 season.

Drummond left the Bulls as a free agent this summer to join the 76ers where he’ll hope to push Embiid and be his backup to maximize the chances for a title run. 

The 76ers also added veterans like Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon, and Paul George alongside retaining Kelly Oubre Jr. and Tyrese Maxey, which has raised the title hopes in Philadelphia by a lot.


Joel Embiid Loves The Fit Of The New 76ers

Joel Embiid is excited for the upcoming season after GM Daryl Morey managed to rebuild the roster into legitimate title contenders within one offseason after the James Harden experiment ended in ugly fashion.

Embiid commented on the fit of the new 76ers, especially the addition of an All-Star like George.

“As far as the fit, it looks amazing, it’s great. Especially… you need to have willing shooters and guys that are not afraid to pull the trigger. PG is a great shooter, 40%… Tyrese we know, great shooter, off the dribble, catch-and-shoot. So, I think we got a pretty good chance.”

Embiid averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists last season but played just 39 games. The 76ers went 31-8 in those games, so his winning impact is unquestionable. But if he can’t stay healthy to show that impact in the postseason, Embiid will continue being a target of criticism as the only MVP to have never even made a Conference Finals.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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