Andre Drummond’s NBA journey is yet to end, but he has a list of regrets he can’t undo now. From reaching the peak as one best rebounders to it being the biggest knife in his throat, the big man has nobody to blame. The NBA changed over time, but what pushed him down was his inability to catch up with the league’s changing dynamics. But what is that hunger now that even a $100 million couldn’t fulfill? The man himself explained.

Drummond now feels he settled for just one big deal, and never worked hard to turn them into twos, threes, or even four! So, the fall from $100 million to a league minimum now might be pinching the New York-born player. But what led to the fall? The ‘mindset.’ Referring to what he felt after the Detroit Pistons deal, he said, “Once I got that max contract, I was like, Oh… my work is done. I did it. I made it here.” ‘Showtime’ felt he had ‘cracked’ a dream deal, and that was his epitome of achievement.

But he has now realized there was a lot more in him. And he learned his lesson the hard way. Adding to it, he said, “I would’ve been a lot more attentive to working on my game and becoming more than just the best rebounder in the league, I would’ve tried to add more pieces to my game so that when the league changed, it wouldn’t have been so difficult for me to adjust.” The rebound legend felt he slipped into the first contract, more so because it was the first time he tasted richness. And a bit more push might have given us a legend, and not just a rebound star.

And talent can only lead to a point, but to hold on to it requires an attitude. While the 31-year-old couldn’t achieve it, he hopes young talents hold on to the work ethics. That is the only thing that will keep them there. Drummond’s regret should be a lesson to us that never miss the bus, no matter what takes you to the sky.

Andre Drummond’s rebound, a strength turned weakness

Drummond’s peak made him one of the most dominant rebounders in the NBA. He won 4x NBA rebounding titles in 5 years from 2016 to 2020. And that includes an incredible 16.0 rebounds per game in the 2018 season! His ability to crash, particularly on the offensive end, made him a valuable asset for the Pistons. But then his reliance on rebounding and his limited offensive range made him one-dimensional in a league.

However, Drummond’s unparalleled rebounding power became his weakness as the NBA progressed. The league shifted toward a more three-point-heavy style of play. And this is where his golden period sunk. He chose not to adapt when teams prioritized spacing, versatility, and big men who could shoot, pass, and defend. Sadly, the big penguin’s traditional post-centric skill set became less valuable. What even pushed him out of focus was his rebounding numbers didn’t help teams in winning games. 

Andre Drummond’s story is a stark reminder that success in sports—or anything—demands constant upskilling, effort, adaptability, humility, and effort to maintain it. His hard-earned wisdom serves as a powerful lesson for young players and everyone.