Andre Drummond’s arrival to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021 via the buyout market was met with optimism. The two-time All-Star was immediately installed as the starting center, tasked with bolstering the team’s frontcourt alongside Anthony Davis. Drummond started the first five games of the Lakers’ playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, showing flashes of his rebounding prowess and interior presence. However, his benching in the decisive Game 6 marked the beginning of a steep and unrelenting decline. Internal reviews from his current team, the Philadelphia 76ers, confirm what many suspected: Andre Drummond’s career is collapsing at an alarming rate.
A Journeyman’s Decline
Since leaving the Lakers, Drummond has become a journeyman, playing for four different teams in the last four years. His playing time has dwindled with each stop, and his role has shrunk from starter to situational backup. Now back with the Philadelphia 76ers for a second consecutive season, Drummond’s 2024-25 campaign was marred by a toe injury that sidelined him for the final 17 games. In the 18.8 minutes per game he did play, Drummond averaged a modest 7.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steal. While these numbers suggest some productivity, they mask deeper issues that have rendered him nearly unplayable in today’s NBA.
Damning On-Off Metrics
Internal team reviews paint a grim picture of Drummond’s impact. Last season, with Drummond on the floor, the 76ers posted an offensive rating of 106.3, a figure that would have ranked 29th league-wide. Defensively, the team was even worse, allowing 121.2 points per 100 possessions—a mark that would have been the NBA’s worst by nearly two points. The result was a staggering negative-14.9 net rating, highlighting Drummond’s inability to contribute meaningfully on either end. These numbers are not anomalies but symptoms of a player whose skill set no longer aligns with the modern game.
A Big Man Out of Time
Drummond’s struggles stem from his outdated playing style. At 32, he lacks the versatility required of today’s big men. He doesn’t shoot threes, has limited lateral mobility, and can only play drop coverage, leaving him vulnerable against quicker opponents and pick-and-roll-heavy offenses. His inability to protect the rim further diminishes his defensive value, making him a liability that opponents eagerly exploit. Offensively, his game is confined to the paint, where he battles for rebounds but offers little else in a league that prioritizes spacing and perimeter play.
The Lakers recognized these limitations during their 2021 playoff run. Drummond’s fit next to Anthony Davis was clunky at best, as his lack of shooting and defensive versatility disrupted the team’s flow. By the end of the Suns series, it was clear he was not the answer, and the Lakers wisely moved on.
Philadelphia’s Problem
Now, the burden falls on the Philadelphia 76ers, where Drummond’s $5 million player option for the 2025-26 season was met with reluctance by team president Daryl Morey. With Joel Embiid’s health remaining a question mark, the Sixers may have no choice but to rely on Drummond for spot minutes. However, rookie Adem Bona’s emergence as a promising backup big man threatens to push Drummond further down the depth chart, potentially out of the rotation entirely. Internal reviews suggest the team views Drummond as a situational player at best, to be used sparingly in specific matchups.
Lakers’ New Direction
Meanwhile, the Lakers have moved forward decisively. This offseason, they acquired Deandre Ayton as their starting center, marking a significant upgrade. Ayton, the best non-Anthony Davis center of the LeBron James era in Los Angeles, brings the modern skill set Drummond lacks—shooting, agility, and defensive versatility. With Luka Doncic now leading the roster, the Lakers are positioning themselves as title contenders, a stark contrast to the 76ers’ predicament with Drummond.
A Cautionary Tale
Andre Drummond’s rapid decline serves as a cautionary tale in the ever-evolving NBA. Once a dominant rebounder and All-Star, he now represents a relic of a bygone era, unable to adapt to the league’s demands for versatile, multi-faceted big men. Lakers fans, who witnessed his struggles firsthand in 2021, can breathe a sigh of relief knowing their team dodged a bullet. For the 76ers, however, Drummond’s presence is a lingering regret, a reminder of a player whose collapse has been confirmed in stark, undeniable terms by internal evaluations. As the NBA continues to evolve, Drummond’s fall from grace underscores the harsh reality that adaptation is survival—and he is struggling to keep up.