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Andre Drummond says he'll let three-pointers fly this season
Bulls' center Andre Drummond has shared he feels more comfortable shooting three-pointers this season. This is a major shift in his game, as he has always been known for his dominant presence in the paint. However, with the NBA moving towards a perimeter-based style of play, Drummond feels it is important to add this aspect to his offensive arsenal.
Open the floor more
Drummond raised eyebrows during the Chicago Bulls' preseason match against the Toronto Raptors as he shot and made three triples. He scored all nine of his points from long range, surprising everyone with the accuracy and smoothness of his stroke.
It's not just that Drummond is shooting threes now; it's that he looks confident doing so. This bodes well for the Bulls, as they now have another weapon to open up the floor. With defenses respecting his long-range shooting, it should create more driving lanes for the likes of explosive wingmen DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.
The 10-year veteran shared that he's been working on his three-point shot every summer since his sixth season in the league. However, he's always been hesitant to let it fly in an NBA game.
"Every summer I would just go at it. There are videos that are out of me shooting them. I would never take them in a game. But it's more so just working in the dark when nobody's watching and being able to be prepared for those moments when it does come," Drummond said.
Confidence from the coaching staff
Even though he's just a 13.2% shooter from beyond the arc for his career, Drummond added he's spoken to the coaching staff about incorporating the three-point shot into his game. They've assured him they have confidence in his ability to shoot it and don't want him to hesitate when he's open.
"It's something that I spoke to the coaching staff in the summertime when I signed here, that it's something that I've worked on, that I want to be able to stay on the floor, and I want to be able to add different facets to my game to be able to help this team win. And if I'm able to make that corner 3 when I'm wide open, it adds another element to our team," said the UConn product.
Drummond, though, assured everyone that he's not going to suddenly morph into Steph Curry and start shooting stepback jumpers from the logo.
"At the end of the day, I'm here to play the offense the right way. But if that shot does present itself I more than likely will take the shot. It's not gonna be something where I'm shooting contested 3s or taking wild shots. It's gonna be in the flow of the offense, if I'm open I'm shooting it."
