AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) – After three seasons with the Detroit Pistons, Andre Drummond has experienced plenty of frustration.
He’s had enough.
“I hate losing. I can’t stand it. It’s the worst feeling,” he said recently. “People laughing at our team, that’s not a good feeling. I want to rub it in somebody’s face that we’re a great team.”
If the Pistons are going to make good on Drummond’s hopes for this season, the 22-year-old center may need to take another step toward stardom. Detroit hasn’t made the playoffs since 2009, and last season’s 32-50 record was actually the team’s best since then. Now the Pistons have to move on without big man Greg Monroe, who departed via free agency, leaving Drummond as the team’s only remaining force under the basket.
The 6-foot-11 Drummond is certainly capable of lifting the Pistons with a big season. He’s averaged 12.1 points and 11.8 rebounds through three seasons, but his shooting dipped to 51 percent last season. Detroit needs him to be even more productive on a consistent basis.