Philadelphia 76ers: Andre Drummond joins an elite rebounding company

Andre Drummond has appeared in 16 games for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2021-22.

He’s started eight games, including each of the last seven, and has averaged 7.2 points, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks, and an astounding 10.4 rebounds in 22.2 minutes of action a night.

And, in a fun twist of fate, Drummond has kept Philly games fun despite Joel Embiid‘s absence, putting up 20 rebound games on the regular, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished on the reg by a Sixers player since Charles Barkley back in the late ’80s.

Do you know what would be a really good nickname for Andre Drummond? The Round Mound of Reb… never mind; let’s just talk about Drummond’s 23 rebound game in the Philadelphia 76ers’ win over the Sacramento Kings.

Andre Drummond is establishing his place in Philadelphia 76ers history.

So far this season, only six players have recorded 20 or more boards in a game – Andre Drummond, Jonas Valančiūnas, Deandre Ayton, Rudy Gobert, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Richaun Holmes.

That’s a pretty strong list, with five of the six players regular holding regular spots in their team’s respective starting fives, but, in a very welcomed development, no player on the list has more 20 point games than Drummond.

To make things all the more exciting, Drummond has had two of the three biggest rebounding games of any player this season, as he put up a 25 rebound game versus the New York Knicks at the beginning of the month and a 23 board performance with the undermanned Sixers versus Alvin Gentry and the Sacramento Kings.

That, my friends, is too sweet.

To pull things out with a bit of a more macro lens, Drummond now has one of only eight players in Philadelphia 76ers franchise history with two or more 23 rebound games, joining a list that also includes Hall of Famers Charles Barkley, Moses Malone, Billy Cunningham, and Wilt Chamberlain, who accomplished the feat over and over again during his run with the team.

Fun fact: Wilt Chamberlain once had 43 rebounds in a game versus the Boston Celtics back in 1965. That’s just… wow.

Now for fans who have kept up with Drummond over his career, this really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Since entering the association in 2012, Drummond has recorded 23 or more boards on 24 different occasions, including a 29 rebound game versus the Indiana Pacers back in 2015, but as a Sixer? Drummond has already passed the 20 board mark three times, and, with three-quarters of the season left to play, he might just set a new personal record for 20 rebound games in a season, despite at most being a part-time starter.

All in all, Drummonds’ rebounding will be incredibly fun to watch, even if his starting opportunities dry up in the not-too-distant future.

Soon, Joel Embiid will be back with the Philadelphia 76ers. According to Kate Scott, he’s already recorded one negative COVID test and could be back in time to face off against Seth Curry’s brother in San Francisco. But when he’s out, which hopefully won’t happen too often, be on “Andre Drummond watch,” as he’s a threat to go for 20-plus any time he’s in the starting five.