Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard erupted for 35 points, 19 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks in a 114-97 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. After the game, Andre Drummond thanked Dwight for the painful hoops lesson. Per the Detroit News:
“I thanked him. I told him, ‘Thank you for teaching me something,’” Drummond said. “It was my first time playing him, it was definitely a learning experience for me.”
“That’s a tough situation, being young and everybody wants you to dominate, but he is dominating at certain levels,” Howard said. “As he gets older and matures and learns to play basketball, he’ll be great. I love him.” […] “I love Andre,” Howard said. “The way he’s been playing this year, I told him before the game, he’s having an amazing season, keep doing what he’s doing. He’ll be fine.”
“I think Andre is already strong. A big, strong boy,” Howard said. “For him, he’s got to continue to work and be patient. Everybody wants everything to happen now and that’s not the mindset you have to have in this league.” Howard has unofficially welcomed Drummond into the fraternity of big men in the NBA, a dwindling club at that. When Drummond thanked Howard for the lesson, Howard coolly replied: “Anytime.”
