How newest Knick Andre Drummond feels as replacement for Mitchell Robinson
GREENBURGH — The first day of school. The arrival in a college dorm. A new job. Any of those can be an awkward situation when you’re the only new face in the room.
For Andre Drummond, that day came this summer, shortly after signing with the Knicks, when he accepted an invitation from Jalen Brunson and was the lone new player joining the rotation and stepping into Brunson’s birthday party.
“This is the first time I’m the only new guy to a team,” Drummond said after finishing the first official practice of training camp. “So it feels kind of weird. Like an outcast trying to fit in but the guys are very welcoming. They made me feel very welcome to be here. Everybody’s been very nice and showing me the ropes of how to be a New York Knick.
“I went to Jalen’s birthday party. So that was cool he invited me to his birthday. That was really cool. Just being here with the guys working out. I came back early just to be in the facility and catch a vibe with everybody. So I think the chemistry is building from now.”
Drummond has moved around during his 14 years in the NBA. The Knicks are his seventh team — eighth if you count two runs with Philadelphia where he played the last two seasons. So he is accustomed to finding his way in a new locale. But in New York he joins a team that won the NBA title and spent the summer seemingly inseparable in the countless celebrations. Drummond not only is the only new face in the rotation, he is replacing Mitchell Robinson, who was the longest-tenured Knicks player, a beloved — and offbeat — part of the locker room.
The departure of Robinson was an emotional subject for his teammates as he left for Boston, where he signed a three-year, $47.4 million contract. It was emotional not just because of their long relationships, but because in the wake of the championship run the Knicks still opted to let him walk rather than going into the second apron of the NBA salary cap.
“I was heartbroken with that one,” Josh Hart said. “That’s one of my guys. I love him. Obviously, he was drafted here, gave his heart to the city. That’s why we haven’t had a repeat [champion] for the last eight years, because of that second apron and because of that CBA.
“Obviously, extremely gutted when he left but I wish him well all but the four times that we play them. But I got love for him. He helped us win a championship and he should always be loved and show love in the city and in the arena.”
So Drummond steps into a backup role, but one that carries an emotional attachment. That could be a rough first day at school — or in this case, in camp. But maybe it was the birthday party, the paths crossed over his long NBA career, or the time spent before camp began in the gym getting in workouts with his new teammates, that gave him confidence that the fit will work out just fine.
“I grew up a Knicks fan from young,” Drummond said. “I’m from Mount Vernon, moved to Connecticut very young. So I’ve always been a fan from Pat Ewing and the list of greats that have come through the Knicks organization. So it’s a true honor to put this jersey on.
“I think it just made the most sense in terms of where I’m at in my career, what this team had just done — they had just won a championship. And with the addition of my veteran leadership and what I bring to the table, it just made sense for me to come here.”
It’s a good start, but it’s on the court where Drummond really needs to prove himself. While Robinson is arguably the best offensive rebounder in the NBA, earlier in his career it was Drummond who was the most dominant player in that category. With age and experience he has adapted and changed his style. Last season, he attempted 90 three-point field goals, more than double the number he’d tried in any other season in his career, and connected on a respectable 35.6%. Robinson has never attempted a three-pointer in his career and only tried two shots at 10 feet or further out last season.
“He’s a veteran,” Mike Brown said. “He’s been there, done that, with a few different teams and he’s a big body. He’s got great feet. Seems like his instincts are pretty good on both ends of the floor. The thing that stands out the most . . . his feet are quicker than what you could imagine. He’s really light on his feet, which is a good thing. But having a guy that size, you know, with length and athleticism, that understands the league can be beneficial long term for us.”
That’s what will matter in the long run, but maybe the birthday invite will be remembered as when it began. If that’s the case, maybe it’s worth asking what he brought to the party for Brunson.
Drummond laughed and said, “I gave him a nice hug.”
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
