When any franchise's cornerstone is unavailable for selection, the potential for its season to spiral is undeniable. Nevertheless, for the Philadelphia 76ers, not having a historically dominant center like Joel Embiid is nothing short of catastrophic, and finding a capable replacement for the star has proven impossible. Although a signature Andre Drummond showing against the Portland Trailblazers may have finally changed this narrative.
Attempting to replace Embiid like-for-life would be a fool's errand. In what reality can a franchise pluck a player who averages 26.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 49.5% from the floor? Spoiler alert: it is never going to happen. The 76ers have to find a big man who can complement the remainder of the roster in the most effective way possible. Drummond can be this guy.
Andre Drummond's dominant rebounding can allow others to thrive
When Philadelphia re-acquired Drummond at the start of the 2024-25 NBA season, they believed they had finally found an effective deputy who could plug the non-Embiid minutes without the team imploding drastically. Injuries to their star player required the veteran to step into a more prominent rotational role, and subpar performances left the Sixers fan base underwhelmed by what they had witnessed from Drummond.
The brutal campaign ended with the former Chicago Bulls center averaging 7.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game over 40 appearances. This season, Drummond has sporadically shown that he can be an effective role player for the Sixers despite being inconsistently utilised by head coach Nick Nurse. He has recorded 6.5 points and 8.5 rebounds on the year so far.
However, it was his performance during Philadelphia's 109-103 victory over the Trailblazers that Drummond proved exactly what he is capable of when Embiid is absent from the roster. He scored six points and grabbed an outrageous 17 rebounds against a center in Donovan Clingan, who has established himself as one of the most impressive interior presences in the entire league this season.
Even when Joel Embiid is available, a dominant rebounding performance from Drummond will be vital if they can reach the latter stages of the postseason. Teams such as the New York Knicks, who boast Mitchell Robinson on their squad list, have bullied the 76ers in recent years when Embiid has not been on the floor. Having a player who can hold down the fort while the star takes a breather is a luxury Philadelphia has rarely enjoyed in previous seasons.
There are few positives for the Philadelphia 76ers to get excited about during this bleak period in their campaign. Nevertheless, Andre Drummond, showcasing his physical attributes on the interior and anchoring his team to an important win, must be considered a game-changing win for the franchise. The next hope will be that this rebounding masterclass will become a consistent feature in Drummond's Sixers career.