Former Sixers big man Andre Drummond gives high praise to Joel Embiid
PHILADELPHIA–Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid is once again putting together a helluva season on the floor. After scoring 37 points in Monday’s double-overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls, the big fella has now scored at least 30 points in 10 straight games and is averaging 33.6 points on the season.
Bulls big man Andre Drummond, who was with the Sixers for the first half of the 2021-22 season before being sent to the Brooklyn Nets in the James Harden-Ben Simmons deal, has been watching Embiid from afar. He gave the MVP candidate the props he deserves for what he has continued to accomplish.
“(Expletive), I wish I could make the decision for the league, but I think he’s an MVP player,” Drummond said pregame. “I think he’s the best big in the league right now along (Nikola) Jokic. Hopefully, they make the right decision. Hopefully, he gets it. I’ll be happy for him, but I think his main focus is winning a championship right now. I think that’s where his mind is at right now. If he gets it, he gets it, but I think he wants the championship more.”
Embiid has stated in the past that his focus is now more on winning a championship rather than winning the MVP award. He has finished as the runner-up to Jokic in the 2021 and 2022 MVP races, but this does seem to be the season that he will finally add that accomplishment to his resume.
The big difference between Embiid and Jokic is on the defensive end where the leader of the Sixers continues to dominate. Drummond believes that he doesn’t get enough credit for what he does on that end of the floor.
“Everybody looks at him scoring 30 points a night and getting 10/11 rebounds a night, but nobody talks about the two or three blocks he gets a game, too,” Drummond stated. “I think him being a defensive presence and anchor for this team is something that should be spoken about more despite his vast amount of points he gets. I think his defensive presence should have some light shed on it.”
