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Heading into the 2015-16 NBA campaign, DeMarcus Cousins was thought of by many as the league’s top center. Others argued for guys like Marc Gasol, Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan, but the Detroit Pistons‘ Andre Drummond was almost always thought of as No. 3 at best.
Although it’s a small sample size (six games), there’s no doubt in my mind that Drummond has surpassed them all and is the NBA’s premier player at the position.
I mean, this guy is doing stuff only legends from the past have accomplished.
Andre Drummond (DET): 1st player with 90 Pts and 90 Rbs in team’s 1st 5 games since Moses Malone in 1983-84 (ELIAS)
— John Buccigross (@Buccigross) November 7, 2015
On Sunday night, Drummond torched the Portland Trail Blazers for an astronomical 29 points and 27 rebounds. Drummond even added three blocks and two steals for good measure. Sure, Portland doesn’t exactly showcase an impregnable frontcourt, but that doesn’t take away from what Drummond is doing early on this season.
Andre Drummond beasting in Portland https://t.co/Tb7mXjfeHO
— The Cauldron (@TheCauldron) November 9, 2015
Drummond is averaging 20.3 points and 20.3 rebounds per game after his monster performance against Portland. The next highest player in rebounds is the aforementioned Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers (13.5).
Drummond, 22, showed immense promise during his only season of college basketball at UConn during the 2011-12 campaign, but fell to Detroit at No. 9 overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. Drummond was solid during his first three seasons in the association, but he was undoubtedly hindered by the presence of PF/C Greg Monroe.
The Pistons decided to pass on re-signing Monroe in free agency over the offseason, and the move has paid tremendous dividends. This season, Detroit starts Ersan Ilyasova at power forward. Illyasova is more of a stretch–four, which helps to give Drummond all the space he needs to absolutely dominate on the glass and score at will in the paint.
I’m sure plenty will say deeming Drummond the league’s top center so early this season is a painfully shortsighted statement considering Cousins hasn’t played much due to injury. But it’s undeniable, and Drummond will continue to prove his naysayers wrong all season.
Timothy Downs is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. You can ‘like him’ on Facebook add him on Google or follow him Twitter @Tidow1212
