Nets' Andre Drummond Says You Have to Be 'Built Differently' to Play for Lakers

The Brooklyn Nets center said on Jefe Island that people need to be built differently to play for that organization.

He said he enjoyed his time in Los Angeles.

“Yeah the Lakers is exactly what you think it is, man. You gotta be built differently to play for that organization. You gotta be mentally strong not even just on the court, but off the court too because there's so much expectations to being a Laker and putting that purple and gold on. Because if you don't meet that expectation they will let you know you're not worthy enough to put on that jersey. So you got to play to the best of your ability and play hard each and every night regardless of win, lose or draw. You gotta just play hard. That's what they respect.

"I had a lot of fun out there. I came off a weird situation in Cleveland where they sat me out for four months. I kind of came back, just trying to figure out how to fit in with a team that I haven't played before. It was kind of a weird situation getting back into the groove of basketball. I wish I had a chance to really connect with those guys and really do something. But everything happens for a reason. The Lakers situation was fun, though, I enjoyed being there."

The Lakers signed him as a free agent. The Lakers had lost four of their last five games and were playing without two of their biggest stars because of injury.

Los Angeles was sitting in a respectable fourth place in the Western Conference as it looked to mount a title defense, but prospects looked bleak for the Lakers without their two best players. The Lakers were going through a rough patch at the time.

He was brought in as a reinforcement for a short-handed frontcourt and averaged 11.9 points and 10.2 pounds in 21 starts.

The Lakers lost to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs.

The Philadelphia 76ers traded him to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the James Harden-Ben Simmons deal. He is going to become a free agent.

Over the course of 10 NBA seasons, the 28-year-old has averaged 13 points and 13 assists. He's an All-Star two times.