When Andre Drummond was at UConn, most could tell that the 6-11 big man was NBA-ready.
He had massive size, a powerful, next-level physique and was a rebounding and inside scoring machine.
A lot of people would’ve predicted he’d play many years in the league, become an All-Star, be one of the league’s best rebounders and consistently rank near the top in field goal percentage, all of which he’s done.
But for him to drain two threes, including a dagger to clinch a Play-In Tournament game? Nah. No chance. Also, what’s the Play-In Tournament?
Drummond drained a corner 3 with 42 seconds left to give his Philadelphia 76ers a 109-97 lead over the Orlando Magic in Wednesday night’s Play-In Tournament 7-8 game, clinching a playoff spot for Philly. The game would end with that score.
It was his second 3-pointer of the night, as he also drained an open look in the first half. The two shots gave him 34 made 3-pointers on the season, a career-high by orders of magnitude. Drummond had never made more than five 3s in a season before this year in his 14 years in the league.
“If you would’ve told Andre Drummond at 17 years old, (then) playing for Detroit, that he was going to make a dagger 3, I don’t think he would believe you,” Drummond said after the game. “But a lot of work that I put into it. Not even just this year but throughout my entire career I’ve worked countless hours in the summertime to prepare for moments like this. The work is showing. Shout out to (coach) Nick Nurse for giving me the green light to shoot those shots. And it’s paying off.”
Drummond attempted 90 threes during the regular season, shooting 35 percent from deep. The only two times he’d even attempted 30 threes was during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, when he shot 5-for-38 and 5-for-35 from deep, respectively.
The former Husky has had a solid season in Philadelphia, averaging 6.4 points and 8.4 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game.
The 76ers will face the Boston Cetlics in the first round of the playoffs, beginning on Sunday.
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