Andre Drummond has embraced Michael Jordan’s legendary exploits with the Chicago Bulls, putting extra pressure on the team.
However, ahead of the new NBA season, the two-time All-Star center is excited to be a part of the Bulls’ return to their former glory, saying he and his teammates have a unique standard to uphold.
Chicago’s six NBA championships were won with the help of Hall of Famer Jordan, who led the team to two three-peats, the first from 1991 to 1993 and the second from 1996 to 1998. , thereby popularizing the alliance on a global scale. .
While Jordan helped the Bulls become one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises, they have struggled to reach anywhere near those heights in recent years.
Chicago has missed the playoffs in five of the past six years and failed to build on its success in 2021-22. Last season they were defeated by the Miami Heat in the playoffs in April.
The Bulls are hoping to be better when the new season starts this week, so Drummond doesn’t need to be reminded of their illustrious history.
“Michael Jordan’s name is everywhere,” he told Stats Perform. “No matter where you go, no matter what country you go to, if you say the name Michael Jordan, someone is going to know who he is.
“You can say the same thing about LeBron (James). I feel like LeBron is right up there with one of the most famous people in the world right now.
“But Michael Jordan, his name was loud. Not just as a basketball player, but the way he was as a person. He brought a lot of hope to this city, he brought a lot of championships here, and he also Brought a lot of stuff.” There’s money here, too. “
Asked whether Jordan’s accomplishments put unique pressure on Chicago, Drummond said: “I’ve only been here a year and a half, so I don’t quite understand what that means.
“But I feel like this year, I’m going to feel it more because I get my feet wet and come out here and see the fan base and how much they love Chicago basketball.
“They still come out every night regardless of whether we perform well or not, so things are starting to get better.
“When I look around the arena, I think, ‘Some great players have stepped onto this floor, man.’
“I feel like you have a standard that you hold yourself to like the Chicago Bulls, and I feel like that’s the pride that we need to walk with.
“The Chicago Bulls are one of the most famous teams in the world. You go around the country and you see people wearing Bulls gear.
“You might see some Lakers, you might see some Knicks or Boston, but the Bulls, everybody loves the Bulls. I don’t know what it is or why it is, I don’t Know what it is.
“Even when I was a kid, I saw people in Connecticut wearing Chicago Bulls gear, but they’d never been to Chicago. Everybody loved the Bulls!
“I think it’s a very famous team and a famous city and you have to uphold that standard.”
The Bulls open their 2023-24 season with back-to-back home games, taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday and the Toronto Raptors visiting the United Center on Friday.