Andre Drummond is a former Los Angeles Lakers center. He is currently with the Brooklyn Nets. Drummond earned a reputation as a solid big-man in this league during his years with the Detroit Pistons. However, he has moved frequently around the NBA since leaving the Pistons.
Drummond also had a brief stint with the Los Angeles Lakers last season. However, he was soon released after a disappointing first-round exit to the Phoenix Suns.
The pressure of playing for the Lakers has always been considered a legitimate variable. Drummond may have played only 21 games with the LAL but he explained how difficult it can be playing for the Lakers.
Andre Drummond on the expectations of being a Laker
Each NBA franchise and audience base is different. Some are harsher and less kind to their players than others. Especially, if the player fails to consistently perform. The LA Lakers are a perfect example of this. They have always set high standards and expectations for the players they have traded for.
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The History of the Lakers shows that they are undeniably basketball royalty. Some of the greatest NBA players were on the Lakers. It has always been “the place to be”. However, Drummond explained what being a laker actually comprised of.
“You gotta be built differently to play for that organization, you have to be mentally strong not even just on the court, off the court, because there are so many expectations to being a laker and putting that purple and gold on cuz if you don’t meet that expectation they will let you know that you are not worthy to put on that jersey”
Drummond must be speaking his truth. There must be real pressure representing the Lakers. However, it is important to recall that they had Kyle Kuzma, Russel Westbrook, and JR Smith for different stretches. One must wonder whether these players felt the pressure Drummond is talking about and how they approached their individual situations.