Andre Drummond On Making Team USA Roster: “I Don’t Plan On Going Home”
Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond is one of two prototypical centers available for Team USA in the FIBA World Championships, the other being DeMarcus Cousins. Drummond has shown his rising stock in the NBA with a commanding presence in the paint and on the glass for Detroit, a presence that Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski probably needs to keep in his back pocket. Despite another round of cuts approaching for Team USA’s roster next week, eventually shedding the group to 12, Drummond tells the Pistons’ official website that he’s confident in his status,
I don’t plan on going home. I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job here these past couple of weeks really proving I could be a part of this team. We have a lot of great players out here. I’m not going to back down. I know what’s at stake. I want to win a gold medal.
With DeMarcus Cousins out for tonight’s first exhibition against Brazil in Chicago, Drummond has a special chance to show his worth for Team USA out on the floor. Though he’s not as skilled offensively as Cousins, his defense and rebounding are just as needed against the girth of opposing front courts, like that of NeNe, Tiago Splitter, and Anderson Varejao on Brazil tonight.
Without the versatility of Kevin Durant and Paul George, Team USA needs to put chemistry on the back burner for now and put their best talent on the floor. Our advantages against other teams lies heavier now on our guard play, but thinking long term, in order to match up with bigger teams, Krzyzewski might be looking to go bigger than originally planned. Andre Drummond expects to be part of the new plan.
