Photo via Los Angeles Lakers
Charles Oakley Raises Concerns About Andre Drummond: “Is He Ready To Sacrifice?”
About two weeks ago, the Los Angeles Lakers signed center Andre Drummond to a deal that lasts until the end of the season.
Drummond, who had been averaging 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks in his 25 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers this season, will be the team’s starting center going forward, replacing Marc Gasol, once he’ll come back from his toe injury he suffered early on in his debut.
While the talent of the two-time All-Star in unquestioned, there are some concerns among analysts and former NBA players surrounding Drummond’s willingness to sacrifice. Charles Oakley is one of them and raised some concerns during an appearance on the 3 League OGs podcast.
“I think they got the best player available, but can he play with the Lakers? He’s the guy who wants the ball in the post like Dwight Howard did for many years, but you get him the ball on the post, he can’t make you a free throw. So he is gonna have to go from playing 37 minutes down to about 24-25. Is he ready to sacrifice? He been on teams where he never did sacrifice, but LeBron had changed a lot of guys over the years. They got the best player available. Can he sustain that with the Lakers and move forward and settle in for 20 minutes a night, sometimes 25.They’re gonna play AD late game at the five stretch to the floor and do different things. So we give Lakers the edge right now…Drummond is the key.”
