The NBA announced today that Pistons Center Andre Drummond has been selected to the 2016 Eastern Conference All-Star team as a reserve. Drummond becomes the first Piston since Allen Iverson (2009), and the first Pistons draft pick since Grant Hill (2000), to be named an NBA All-star.
“I’m honored to be selected by the coaches to my first NBA All-Star game,” said Drummond. “I’d like to thank my coaches and teammates for putting me in a position to have the kind of season I’m having. I’d also like to give a special ‘thank you’ to all the great Detroit Pistons fans for your continued support. I plan on going to Toronto and represent you and the Pistons organization to the best of my ability.”
A fourth-year center who was drafted ninth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft, Drummond leads the NBA in rebounds (career-high 15.2 rpg), defensive rebounds (454), offensive rebounds (246) and double-doubles (38) while averaging a career-high 17.3 points per game. He’s recorded five games with 20-plus points and 20-plus rebounds this season and has nine games with 20 or more rebounds (no other player has more than two games with 20 or more rebounds). Drummond has also recorded 20 games this season with 15-plus points and 15-plus rebounds – Dwight Howard has the next most such games with seven.
At 6-11, 279-pounds from the University of Connecticut, Drummond scored a career-high 33 points to go with 21 rebounds at Chicago (12/18) to become the first Piston to record 30-plus points and 20-plus rebounds since Dennis Rodman had 34 points and 23 rebounds vs. Denver (1/2/91). Among Eastern Conference centers, Drummond ranks fourth in scoring (17.3 ppg), first in rebounds (15.2 rpg), third in field-goal percentage (52%), first in steals (1.7 spg) and tied for fifth in blocks (1.4 bpg).