The new 76ers will host the Bucks in Philadelphia on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams, and two of their stars will be in street clothes.
Joel Embiid and Paul George will be sidelined with knee issues, opening up the opportunity for Philadelphia's supporting cast to make their first appearances in the 2024-25 NBA season.
One 76er in particular will do well without Embiid.
Andre Drummond returned to Philadelphia during the offseason as Embiid's backup center and signed a two-year, $10 million contract, but he is expected to be in the 76ers' starting lineup.
It's been more than five years since Drummond made the All-Star team with the Detroit Pistons, but on the court he's still one of, if not the best rebounder in basketball.
The veteran big man's rebound total for Wednesday's game was pegged at 14.5 by most major sportsbooks, which sounds high but is easily surpassed by Drummond in the starting lineup.
Over the past two seasons with the Bulls, Drummond averaged 18.9 rebounds per 36 minutes, with four full-board appearances, comfortably leading all NBA players with at least 2,000 minutes in that span.
Drummond started 10 games for Chicago last season, but only once did he reach 15 rebounds.
The 76ers are very small compared to Embiid and Drummond. Caleb Martin, who stands 6-foot-5, will start at power forward, but the only truly healthy big man on the roster will have plenty of rebound opportunities.
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The Bucks also have one of the largest frontcourts in basketball, and with the combination of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez often sharing the court together, Drummond's size will be needed for big minutes.
Take advantage of this rare opportunity to capitalize on Drummond's rebounding ability.
Play: Andre Drummond 14.5+ rebounds (+100, Bet Rivers)
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Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst in various sports fields. He is especially knowledgeable about the Big 3, MLB, NFL, and NBA.
