In February, an astonishing statistic about Andre Drummond came to light. Despite averaging just 17.0 minutes per game, the powerhouse center was grabbing 8.7 rebounds per game. This piqued interest, leading to a deep dive into the Stathead database to see if any other player in NBA history had achieved such numbers. They had not.
This impressive feat was noted as the season progressed. Although remarkable, the Bulls still had a few months left in the season, and Drummond was benefiting from some dominant performances when stepping in for an injured Nikola Vucevic. During his seven starts between December 26 and January 8, Drummond averaged an incredible 17.4 rebounds per game, undoubtedly boosting his overall statistics.
Fast forward to today, and it’s time to re-evaluate Drummond’s season in the context of NBA history. Using his totals from this year, a search was conducted for NBA players who accumulated at least 708 rebounds in 1,351 minutes or less over a full season. The result was a list with only one name: Andre Drummond (2023-24).
As a fan of exceptional rebounders, this stat is absolutely remarkable. To find the next player on the list, the minutes played had to be adjusted significantly. It wasn’t until filtering for at least 1,600 minutes that another player appeared: Dennis Rodman. In the 1994-95 season, Rodman grabbed 823 rebounds while playing just 1,568 minutes for the San Antonio Spurs, doing so in only 49 games, of which he started 26.
Andre Drummond is often lauded as one of the game’s elite rebounders, and this season has further cemented that status. He is undoubtedly one of the best ever seen in this department, and this stellar performance is a key reason why he’s likely to secure a lucrative contract this offseason.
While the contract might not be astronomical, it’s reasonable to expect Drummond to secure a multi-year deal above the veteran minimum. He averaged 8.4 points and 9.0 rebounds in his 17.1 minutes per game and appeared in his most games since the 2018-19 season.
For teams seeking to bolster their frontcourt, Andre Drummond has proven to be a solid choice. Potential suitors like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers, both with ample cap space and a need for depth at center, will be worth watching this offseason.