When the Philadelphia 76ers signed Dwight Howard prior to the 2020-21 season, many felt the team finally found the perfect backup center to Joel Embiid. As a former top center in the league, Howard could be a great mentor for Embiid during the prime of his career.
This pairing did not last long after Howard shockingly decided to return to LA and sign with the Los Angeles Lakers over the summer. With a hole to fill in the roster, Daryl Morey once again found himself in the market for a big man to back up the Sixers' franchise cornerstone.
In a move that shocked many, Andre Drummond agreed to a deal to join the Sixers' roster. After multiple altercations in games and on social media, Embiid and Drummond were now going to be teammates.
Since arriving, Drummond has done an incredible job and started his tenure in Philadelphia on a high note. He has proven to be an upgrade over Howard on the court and continues to say all the right things.
Buying into a role is not always easy for players, but Drummond does not seem bothered thus far. Before the Sixers' matchup with the New York Knicks on Tuesday, he even made a silly comparison to himself and Embiid. From Drummond's perspective, Embiid is batman while he is Alfred, batman's butler.
.@AndreDrummond tells me he’s the Alfred to Joel Embiid’s Batman. Whatever Joel needs, Dre is out there to help him. #Sixers
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) October 26, 2021
It's clear Drummond has the right idea on where he fits within the Sixers. He is there to aid Embiid and provide whatever is needed when the opportunity arises, not get in his way. While Drummond might have used a silly analogy, it does perfectly explain his dynamic with the 2020-21 MVP runner-up.
Having a tight-knit relationship with head coach Doc Rivers might have made this transition easier. But Drummond's understanding and acceptance of his role are a major testament to his maturity. For the last eight years, Drummond has been a starter in this league. Now, in what is considered the prime years of his career, he is taking on a backup role and doing so with open arms.
Drummond is a former All-Star and just 28 years old. He is still more than capable of being an everyday starting center in this league. Instead, he chose to come to Philadelphia and play behind Embiid. Most players struggle to take on a lesser role in the twilight of their career, let alone in their early 20s.
The Sixers have always made it a top priority to get Embiid to the postseason as healthy as possible, and Drummond puts them in a great position to do so. Having a backup that, in reality, could be a starter elsewhere will make it much easier to lessen Embiid's load at times during the regular season.
Statements like this are a big reason why Daryl Morey may have found another steal in free agency. Signing for the veteran's minimum, Drummond has a chance to greatly outperform his contract with the Sixers this season.
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