About a month ago, the 76ers defeated the Spurs 111-106 at Wells Fargo Center, a game that featured a bizarre situation involving Drummond and Wembanyama. The incident unfolded when Andre received his second technical foul after a confrontation with the French phenom. However, in a surprising turn of events, the referees reviewed the decision and rescinded the ejection, prompting Drummond to return to the court.

Reflecting on the encounter with Wembanyama, Andre shared his thoughts: “The first time we did it, you know, I put my body against his so he couldn’t get a lob. The dude is 7’15”, like he’s huge. I’m trying to get some leverage on my body and, yeah, he just like collapsed.”

Drummond continued, noting: “The second time we did it again, I didn’t even touch him that time. And they still blew the whistle. So, you know, superstar call,” he explained, making it clear that Wembanyama has already achieved star status despite his young age, and it’s clear in certain refereeing decisions.

Drummond’s return to the game

As if the ejection itself wasn’t strange enough, Drummond’s return to the game became a source of confusion. The referees reviewed the call and changed it, so someone had to go get the center from the locker room. “You’re back in the game,” Andre recalls being told. “I said ‘How? I got ejected.’”

He continued, admitting his confusión: “I mean, I was just as confused as anybody else. But I’m not gonna lie,” he said. “By the time they came back and got me, I was about to be in the shower. So that’s what took me so long to come back out. I had to throw all my (expletive) back on, I’m like ‘Hold on.’”

Drummond’s conversation with the referee

Once back on the court, Drummond had a lighthearted exchange with the referee who had ejected him. “I get back out there and the ref was like, ‘Oh, I (expletive) up,’ and I’m like ‘What do you want me to say to that? It’s OK?” the Sixers player recalled. “No, it’s all right, man, don’t worry about it. You just threw me out of the game, no big deal.”

Wembanyama’s rapid rise to stardom

At just 21 years old, Victor Wembanyama has already earned the “superstar” label that Andre Drummond alluded to. After a standout rookie season in which he won Rookie of the Year, led the league in blocks, and earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team, he has taken his game to new heights.

Through the first 36 games of the current season, the Spurs star leads the league in blocks with an average of 4.0 per game. He’s also ranked 19th in scoring with 24.4 points per game and 9th in rebounding with 10.8 boards per contest, further solidifying his place among the league’s elite.

Therefore, when there are talks about the best rebounder in NBA history, should be mentioned players such as Wilt Chamberlain with 23,924 boards, alongside the named Bill Russelland, to complete the podium, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with17,440 rebounds in his career.

And now, Andre Drummondjust entered himself into the debate, because of his bold statements coming to the 2022-23 NBA Season. Therefore, the social media debates started to talk about it, since the Chicago Bulls’ center now might enter in his final stage of his career.

NBA:How many times has Andre Drummond led the NBA in rebounding?

As reported byMike Anthony of the CT Insider, Andre Drummondsaid, “he hopes to play until he’s well into his 30’s. And when all is said and done, Drummond said he hopes to be remembered as the best rebounder in NBA history.”“I think I’m already there,” Drummond said. “I’m on my way. By the time I retire, I’ll go down as the best rebounder ever — if not already.”

So, there is a debate going on about his impact in the rebounding asset. According to the specialized site StatMuse, Drummond hasgrabbed 9,519 boards in his 10-season career. Also, Drummond has led the NBA in rebounding for 4 seasons, in2015-16, 2017-18, 2018-19and 2019-20 seasons.

However, he isn’t near the top-10 tier list of players with most rebounds in the NBA history. Which is Dwight Howard with14,627 rebounds in his career. Although, Drummond is the 10th player in NBA history with the best rebounds per game, with 13 boards per game.

Camera footage captured the exact moment when his son suddenly fells into thepool and Drummond immediately rescues him. Instead of panicking, he had a heroic action and this will just be an anecdote.

Andre Drummond then posted the video onTwitterand even took it calmly, but the truth is that he should be proud of his reaction. Check out the video and Drummond’s comments.

Watch: Andre Drummond rescues drowning son

“NOT ALL HEROS WEAR CAPES,” he joked about it, but also got serious: “A parents worst nightmare….. Feat my son & I,” Andre Drummond wrote on Twitter. Here is the moment when he saved his son’s life:

“No one was harmed in this video,” Drummond added. Everything happened in the blink of an eye and, for a few seconds, the people witnessing the situationhave panicked.

But Andre Drummond didn’t even think about it andjumped into the pool with his clothes on to save his son from a fatal situation. Fortunately, the 76ers center and his family can rest easy thanks to his heroic reaction.

As General Managers begin to size up potential targets the first list many turn to is the free agents list at seasons end. Entering the 2021/2022 NBA season the free agent class may not be as notable as in seasons past, but there are still some interesting names to consider.

Here are five NBA free agents entering the 2021/2022 seasonwith the cards in their hands, these names may not be one teams may want to pass up. We review these 5 NBA players current situation and where they may go.

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard is technically a free agent, but rumors have it that Leonard will sign an extension to stay with Los Angeles Clippers, despite the fact that he may miss the enter season due to a knee injury. Reports state it is only a matter of time before he puts pen to paper, but just how much will the Clippers want to keep a high price player that may miss next season altogether? Rumors have it that the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, and the New York Knicks may go after Leonard, but they will need to bring a big checkbook.

Chris Paul

Chris Paul can still go even at 36 years old. Paul had a very healthy season for the Suns, having 16 points per game and lit it up in Game 1 of the NBA Finals with 32 points. Paul could become a free agent after turning down a contract from the Suns and it is rumored that the Knicks could make a move for the veteran.

Andre Drummond

Andre Drummond would like to stay with the Lakers, but he does not want to take a pay cut, this has opened up the doors for other teams to inquire, potential landing spots could be the Clippers, Celtics, and Nets.

DeMar DeRozan

The Spurs player is set to look for a team where he can win a ring. It is said that DeMar DeRozan is favoring the chance to be a champion over salary and after 8 seasons of recording 20 points per season, DeRozan would be a very interesting pick up for anyone. The Lakers are said to be the team that could pull the trigger.

Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin bounced back with the Brooklyn Nets in a big way last season, and after the playoffs he could be on the list of many teams entering the new season. Rumors have it that the Nets will put a better offer on the table but look for the Lakers and Bulls to have a say in the matter.

Drummond, however, was one of the biggest disappointments of the season. He was exposed on defense and inefficient on offense, and failed to step up when the team needed him the most at the end of the season.

Even so, the Lakers reportedly want him playing next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the frontcourt, but his latest activity on social media could be a hint of him not wanting to come back next season.

Andre Drummond Blames Frank Vogel For His Terrible Performances

A fan called him out on Instagram for his poor performances, claiming that he can’t dominate in the paint like Deandre Ayton and Brook Lopez are doing in the NBA playoffs right now. And instead of ignoring him or vowing to be better, he just took a shot at Frank Vogel.

Drummond said that he could dominate like those players if the coach gave him more minutes. But the reality is that he wasn’t on the court because he was unplayable and a huge liability on every single possession.

Andre Drummond is due to become an unrestricted free agent but did absolutely nothing that could make an NBA team believe that he’s worthy of something more than a veteran minimum deal. He was just torched and his game is obsolete for today’s game.

Winners don’t make excuses or blame others for their failures. They take their chin up and say that they’ll be better and actually put some work in to improve. If the Lakers had any second thoughts about bringing him back, then this should do it.

Nonetheless, now that Davis is back on the court and that it’s only a matter of days before LeBron James comes back from his high-ankle injury, the purple-and-gold can start dreaming of another NBA championship again.

That’s why newcomer Andre Drummond is so excited about having the chance of finally playing next to LeBron James, claiming that he’ll get tons of easy looks at the basket and he’ll make the rest of the team better.

Andre Drummond Is Ecstatic About LeBron James’ Return From Injury

“You know what? I don’t think my brain can process what type of opportunities will come from him being on the court. Right now we can’t control him not being in there… but depending on when he does come, I’m sure great things will happen for everybody,” Drummond said, as quoted by Fadeaway World.

It’s not a secret that LeBron James thrives while making his teammates better, and the Lakers’ roster is designed to go through The King on almost every single touch, so Drummond has a valid point right there.

LeBron was playing at an MVP level before falling with that injury, averaging 33.4 minutes,25.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.0 steals, and 2.4 three-pointers per game in 51/36/70 shooting splits.

Now, the Lakers are unlikely to finish better than 5th in the West,thus making it unlikely that they’ll have homecourt advantage in any playoff series. At least, they’ll have something even better: a well-rested LeBron James, which is a scary thought for the rest of the league.

But, given that they were still struggling to establish an interior presence – especially with Anthony Davis on the shelf for most of the season – they completed arguably their most important signing of the year: Andre Drummond.

Drummond is going to give them a much-needed boost ahead of the playoffs with his ability to dominate both sides of the glass and his newfound defensive skills. However, it’ll take some time before he gets used to his new system.

Kyle Kuzma Throws Shade At The Detroit Pistons And Cleveland Cavaliers

Drummond has had some ups-and-downs over his first couple of games with the team, which is normal considering he’s just learning things on the go. That’s why Kyle Kuzma didn’t waste the chance to diss his former coaches, saying this is the first time that he’s actually being coached:

“I mean, it’s just a process, man. It’s not going to happen overnight. Rome wasn’t built overnight. I think that for him, it’s a big adjustment. When you think about it, he’s kind of really never really been coached in his career. Playing in Detroit, in Cleveland, and then coming here into a championship organization, it’s tough,“ Kuzma said.

That’s just classic Kuzma and exactly why some people just can’t take him seriously. He’s constantly taking uncalled shots at everybody else and talking as if he were the reason why the Lakers are the reigning champions.

Then again, he’s got a bit of a point this time. It’ll take Drummond a couple of weeks to adapt and fulfill the role the Lakers want out of him, especially when LeBron James and Anthony Davis come back.

At least, the purple-and-gold could get a glimpse of what Andre Drummond can give them going forward, as the recently acquired big man was able to play in his first full game with the franchise.

Drummond’s debut a couple of weeks ago was cut short due to a gruesome toe injury. He was forced to miss the next four games until making his comeback last night in a loss to the Miami Heat.

Andre Drummond Opens Up On His First Full Game As A Laker

And even though the outcome wasn’t great and it was clear that he still needs to get a better understanding of their system, Drummond was still pretty excited about what’s to come for them:

“The guys that played did a hell of a job keeping the fight in this game,” Drummond started.“(The injured toe) It felt good. A little sore but it’s not going to hold me back.”

“This being my first real game I played (for the Lakers), it felt good being out there. I’m still trying to figure guys out. I caught myself running into guys a few times,” the former Pistons star concluded.

Coach Frank Vogel Lauds Andre Drummond After First Full Game

Lakers coach Frank Vogel was also quite thrilled about his recently acquired weapon, lauding him for his dominant effort on both sides of the glass and his activity on the defensive end of the floor:

“Drummond was great. He competed, he does what he does, 15 and 12 in 26 minutes, four offensive boards, great screener, active hands defensively. Offensively, there’s a lot to learn still within our system, both sides of our ball, learning our teammates. Good first full game,” the coach told the media via Zoom.

The Lakers have a chance to do something really special with Drummond locking down the paint once Anthony Davis and LeBron James come back, so don’t rule out the defending champions even if they’re not winning many games right now.

Moreover, it seemed like their woes at the center position were far from being sold, with an aging Marc Gasol struggling on both ends of the floor and other players like Damian Jones or Devontae Cacok trying to fill that void.

Now, they’re once again at the top of the list of the candidates to win the NBA Championship after adding former Detroit Pistons star Andre Drummond, one of the most dominant rebounders ever.

Drummond will get the Lakers a massive boost in the paint with his presence inside, let alone his physical defense. Also, next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, they’ll have one of the toughest frontcourts in the league.

Lakers Players React To Andre Drummond’s Signing

Obviously, Lakers players were quite thrilled to find out the news of Drummond’s signing, and here are some of the best reactions to it:

“He’s a strong solid player on both sides of the floor. … We can’t wait for him to get here. We’re going to welcome him with open arms,” said Montrezl Harrell.

“I got somebody to battle with on the boards,” added Kyle Kuzma.

“Congratulations to@AndreDrummond for signing with the@Lakers and welcome to Los Angeles! Andre is just what the Lakers need; a big man who can score, rebound, and defend,” Lakers legend Magic Johnson tweeted.

“Andre Drummond gives us powerful, anchor-point skills on both ends of the court,” Rob Pelinka said. “We feel extremely fortunate to add a player of his caliber and magnitude to our core group at this stage of our journey to defend the NBA title,” GM Rob Pelinka also said.

It’s clear that the Lakers are determined to win back-to-back championships and Drummond’s presence surely helps in that matter, regardless of how many players keep signing with the Brooklyn Nets.

According to multiple reports, the Cavs are looking to trade the center to another franchise while they areno longer playing him. Apparently both general manager Koby Altman and Jeff Schwartz, the center’s agent, agreed to proceed with this. However, thesituation turns difficult as the organization only have time until March 25, 2021, date of the trade deadline.

But aside from that, there’s another factor that can be an issue for the Cavs when trying to find a place to trade him. The player’s salary isaccording to his level and to the moment when he was at Detroit, so it’s an expensive one. Anyone interested in the center must tobe able to afford him. Check out which is Andre Drummond’s contract.

Andre Drummond’s contract

As Spotrac informs, Drummond has signed a 5-year deal with the Detroit Pistons in 2016 thatguaranteed him$127 millionand also included an annual average salary of $25 million for the center, according to this website.

Moreover, the annual salary of the player increased as he evolvedthrough every seasonand whenthe player moved to Cleveland Cavaliers this kept con changing. From the 2020/21 season on,Drummondstarted to earna base salary of $28.7 million,which is the same amount for hiscap hit, as Spotrac reports.

Those figureswould make it difficult for the Cavs to trade him, although there are teams that may afford it if they are interested in getting the center. Reports state that Toronto Raptors are the most likely candidate to make a move for him. But other franchises such as Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics would be interested in landing the main man on the market right now.In addition, Andre Drummond’s contract expires at the end of the season. The center is leading Cleveland in rebounds per game with13.5, while he averages 17.5 points per game and 2.6 assists.

The former Detroit Pistons star picked up his lucrative option for this season knowing that it might as well be his final chance to can in on a big paycheck, as the heavy-footed, old-school big man is a dying breed around the league.

Then again, it seems like he’s drawing plenty of interest in the market right now, and the Los Angeles Lakers – the alleged frontrunner to land him – could face some tough competition among Eastern Conference teams.

Raptors, Nets, Celtics, And Heat All Want Andre Drummond

Apparently, an unnamed league executive told NBA insider Gery Woelfl that the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat are all making calls about Drummond, as they know that they need someone to match up with Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the playoffs:

“All of those teams in the East know they need an established and reliable big if they were to face Embiid or Giannis in the playoffs,” he reported.

Drummond has made great strides as a defender over the past couple of years and he’s been the most dominant rebounder in the league since he was drafted, so there’s no wonder why there are many teams interested in his services.

The Lakers, however, could only make a run at him if he gets bought out following the trade deadline, as they’re unwilling to part ways with any of their assets in a trade. Sadly, that could cost them a shot at him.

Andre Drummond is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, thus making it hard for other teams to trust him enough to trade a lot for him. Then again, that might be their only chance to land the best available big man in the trade market right now.