Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond speak about the relationship they share on and off the court

A big man brotherhood unlike any other.

© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bulls big men Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond used to have titanic showdowns on the floor before becoming teammates in the Windy City in 2022. Since then, they’ve built a fantastic relationship both on and off the court, even helping each other in practice and games as they try to lift the Bulls out of the basement of the Eastern Conference.

Fun match-ups

The two big men reminisced about the showdowns they had back when they were playing for different teams. Drummond played most of his career in Detroit, while Vooch made a name for himself while suiting up for the Orlando Magic. According to Drummond, guarding Vucevic took him out of his comfort zone—the shaded lane.

​​“Guarding Vooch was always fun because he was like a black sheep during that time. He was one of the few bigs who was shooting jumpshots, shooting 3s and those midrange shots,” Drummond said.

“I enjoyed playing against him because I had to prepare differently knowing he wasn’t a traditional rolling big.”

On the other hand, Vooch shared how much trouble Drummond caused, especially on the offensive glass and in the low post.

“They were very tough matchups, especially the rebounding part on the offensive glass. It was tough to keep him off. At one point, it was like me trying to hold him off and someone else come and get it. That’s what I used to do. When he caught it in the paint, there wasn’t a whole lot you could do,” Vucevic said.

Third season playing together

On the Bulls, Vooch starts while Drummond plays the backup role. The two have developed a unique chemistry on and off the court that has helped them become an effective tandem.

“I never really knew him off the court. And I always wondered what he was like off the court. He’s a great guy. From Day One, we really connected and have a really good relationship off the court. We always talk during the game and practice about things we see, things he knows from different guys he played with. He’s very positive,” Vooch shared.

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