Andre Drummond broke into the league already boasting some shot-blocking chops, ones that only became more evident in the second and third year of his career, blocking close to two shots per game as a starter. Yet the fear of being part of the wrong end of a poster was a real one for the Detroit Pistons center.

“As a younger guy, no one wants to be on a highlight or make somebody’s mixtape for their best plays of the year,” Drummond told James Edwards III of The Athletic. “For me, early in me career, that was something where I was like, ‘Ah, I don’t know if I should go for this and get dunked on.’”

After hi shot-blocking numbers took a clear dip in the fourth and fifth season of his career, Drummond soon realized he had to get back his fearlessness and reckless abandon to become a successful rim-stopper.

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Drummond considered the other half of the coin, as if he was the one delivering the highlight-reel play, it would have more consequences than making SportsCenter Top 10, but also sparking his team with some much-needed momentum.

“Those plays are winning plays,” Drummond said. “When someone tries to get a dunk and you get the block, it’s demoralizing for a guy trying to dunk the basketball. For me, I’m trying to go after everything. Whatever happens, happens.”

The UConn product has looked as sharp as he ever has throughout his career entering this postseason, averaging a career-high 17.3 points, a league-leading 15.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks — the second-best mark of his seven-year stint in the NBA.