Knicks Add Andre Drummond to Defend NBA Championship

The New York Knicks are preparing to defend their NBA championship with nearly the same rotation that delivered their first title in 53 years. The team retained most of its leading contributors during the offseason and signed veteran center Andre Drummond to address the departure of Mitchell Robinson while adding another dimension to its frontcourt offense.

According to The New York Daily News, 10 of the 11 Knicks players who averaged the most minutes per game last season are returning. Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado and Jordan Clarkson agreed to new contracts, preserving a championship group that coach Mike Brown hopes can maintain its chemistry under the pressure of defending the title.

New York signed Drummond to a one-year, $3.9 million contract after Robinson joined the Boston Celtics on a three-year, $47.4 million deal. The Knicks had sought to remain below the $222 million second-apron luxury-tax threshold, which imposes significant restrictions on roster construction.

Drummond, 33, averaged 6.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game with the Philadelphia 76ers last season. The Mount Vernon, New York, native enters his 15th NBA season with his fifth team in five years, bringing four career rebounding titles and All-Star selections in 2016 and 2018.

At training camp, Drummond described the unusual experience of joining a team whose championship rotation was largely intact.

"This is the first time I'm the only new guy to a team, so it feels kind of weird. Like, an outcast trying to fit in," Drummond said.

The veteran center also emphasized that his new teammates had helped him settle into the locker room despite his initial uncertainty.

"But the guys are very welcoming," Drummond said. "They made me feel very welcome to be here."

New York's coaching staff is not asking Drummond to reproduce Robinson's specific contributions. Brown wants the newcomer to use his size, screening, rebounding and passing while the rest of the roster compensates for the defensive and offensive rebounding production lost with Robinson's departure.

"We're not expecting Andre to come in and be Mitch or impact the game in a lot of different ways that Mitch did," Brown said. "Just be yourself, but everyone else has to step up and box out a little harder. All those things will make us a top-level team."

According to The Hartford Courant, Drummond's value could extend beyond traditional center responsibilities. Brown has encouraged him to operate as a passing hub in pick-and-roll situations, setting screens and rolling toward the basket to create opportunities for teammates on the perimeter.

Drummond said his passing ability has been an important part of his game throughout his career, although his role varied across previous teams. He averaged 3.0 assists per game during the 2017-18 season with the Detroit Pistons.

"I love to pass, I love to see the floor, and I play well in the pocket," Drummond said. "The game is changing, my guards like to score, and I throw the pocket pass in."

His development as a perimeter shooter has also become a potential asset. After attempting 20 three-pointers and making three during the 2024-25 season, Drummond converted 32 of 90 attempts last season, a 35.6% success rate, according to The Hartford Courant.

Drummond demonstrated that range against New York on Dec. 19, when he made three of four three-point attempts and scored 14 points in Philadelphia's 116-107 victory at Madison Square Garden. The performance caught the attention of Knicks captain Jalen Brunson, who later welcomed Drummond personally.

Brunson invited the center to his 30th birthday party during the summer, creating an opportunity for the two players to build a relationship before training camp.

"I've known him from afar," Brunson said. "It's always been mutual — like, hi and bye — and I always respect him. That was the first time we really got to sit down and have a conversation. It was kind of like an icebreaker-type thing and also welcoming him to the team."

Drummond's adjustment also involved preparing for Brown's conditioning requirements. The center said the coach contacted him during the summer to explain what would be expected when the team gathered for camp, prompting him to focus on his fitness.

"Be a master of what I do. I mean, I'm able to rebound the ball at a high clip still," Drummond said. "Obviously with the addition of the three-point shot, being able to be a good pick-and-roll defender, and just a great locker room guy altogether is really what keeps me around."

The Knicks' returning reserves have provided another foundation for the transition. Shamet signed a four-year, $24 million contract, Alvarado agreed to a three-year, $14 million deal, and Clarkson returned on a veteran-minimum contract.

Shamet said the group values shared success over individual playing time, a mindset that could prove important as Brown manages a deep rotation.

"We want to win for each other," Shamet said. "We're willing to take on different roles and know that we've got each other's back. If Jose's got it going and my minutes are shortened, awesome, and vice versa."

Shamet also highlighted the willingness of reserve guards to accept changing responsibilities without allowing competition to undermine their relationships.

"I've been a broken record about it, but you don't see that. From a backup guard position, that's very rare, where no ego or ulterior motives get involved. That's something special that you want to be a part of," Shamet said.

Alvarado echoed that emphasis on cooperation within the second unit.

"We compete," Alvarado said. "We want to get each other better. In order to win, we need everybody on the same page, and we know that."

Brown also acknowledged the challenges that accompany a championship defense. Speaking to The New York Post, the coach said the team expected opponents to approach games against New York with added motivation, particularly at Madison Square Garden.

"Everybody likes to play the Knicks anyway, especially in MSG, and now it's just an added carrot to the whole deal," Brown said. He pointed to the team's maturity as a potential advantage when handling increased attention, media scrutiny and the expectations attached to being defending champions.

The Knicks also made a difficult roster decision during their final preparations, waiving veteran swingman Bruce Brown on Saturday to reduce the roster to 14 players. Mike Brown praised the player's versatility and defensive toughness while acknowledging the difficulty of the move, according to The New York Post.

Drummond's preseason performances offered an early indication of what he could contribute. Across four games, he recorded 32 points, 26 rebounds, nine assists and seven blocks while shooting 11 of 20 from the field.

His strongest performance came in the preseason finale against Toronto at Madison Square Garden. Drummond scored 14 points on six-of-seven shooting, grabbed eight rebounds and delivered four assists in 15 minutes during New York's 122-120 victory.

Karl-Anthony Towns, whom the Knicks rely on for a different offensive approach at center, praised Drummond's rebounding credentials and welcomed his expanded skill set. The coaching staff will continue to assess how his passing, perimeter shooting and defensive communication fit alongside the returning championship core.