AUBURN HILLS, Mich.– The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club has re-signed center Andre Drummond to a multi-year contract. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Drummond, 22, appeared in 81 games (all starts) last season, averaging a career-high 16.2 points (.521 FG), a career-high 14.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks in career-high 32.9 minutes per game. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team and was selected to the NBA All-Star team, becoming the first Piston since Allen Iverson (2009) and first Piston draft pick since Grant Hill (2000) to be named an all-star. Drummond also helped Detroit reach the post-season for the first time since 2009, posting averages of 16.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 32.8 minutes in his first playoff appearance.
Pistons Owner Tom Gores praised Drummond’s development as a player and as a representative of the franchise.
“It's been a pleasure to watch Andre from the time he first came into the league to where he is today, having matured into this incredible talent. Beyond his evolution as a basketball player, it's been equally rewarding watching him mature as a young man,” said Gores. “Andre has the character and dedication to help our franchise achieve greatness. I’m proud of him and his family, the way they’ve embraced Detroit and the way Detroit has embraced them. I'm excited for all of us about the years to come.”
Among NBA leaders last season, the 6-11, 279-pound center ranked first in rebounding (14.8 rpg), first in total rebounds (1,198), first in offensive rebounding (4.9 orpg), first in total offensive rebounds (395) and first in double-doubles (career-high 66). Only Pistons Legend and Hall of Famer Bob Lanier recorded more double-doubles in a single season (69 in 1972-73) with Detroit. Drummond also led the NBA in 20-plus rebound games (9) and 15-plus point and 15-plus rebound games (30). He became just the third Piston to lead the NBA in rebounding (Dennis Rodman and Ben Wallace) and notched his third consecutive season with 1,000-plus points, 1,000-plus rebounds and 100-plus blocks.
“Re-signing Andre was a top priority for us this offseason,” said President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Stan Van Gundy. “The offensive and defensive numbers speak for themselves, but more importantly, his commitment to the organization has allowed us to put together a young group of players that will grow together and continue to move the franchise forward.”
The Mount Vernon, N.Y. native started the 2015-16 season on record pace by averaging 18-plus points and 18-plus rebounds through the first 10 games, becoming the first NBA player to do so since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975-76. Drummond collected 376 rebounds during the first 20 games of the season, becoming the youngest player (22 years and 116 days) in NBA history to accomplish that feat.
He scored a career-high 33 points (14-25 FG) and grabbed 21 rebounds at Chicago (12/18), marking his first career 30/20 game and the first 30/20 game by a Piston since Dennis Rodman recorded 34 points and 23 rebounds vs. Denver (1/2/91). He also grabbed a career-high 29 rebounds vs. Indiana (11/3) and blocked a season-high five shots twice [vs. Miami (11/25) and vs. Denver (2/10)].
Originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the ninth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Drummond holds career averages of 13.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 1.2 steals and 29.7 minutes in 304 career games. During his sophomore season he averaged 13.2 rebounds, the highest average in NBA history by a player 20 years or younger and was named MVP of the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star 2014. Drummond also became the youngest player in NBA history to record 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 100 blocks and 100 steals while shooting better than 60% from the field. During his rookie campaign, he earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors.