CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bulls big man Andre Drummond works from a different headspace than most.
He has since coming to the Bulls before the 2022-23 season and likely for years before that.
Then again, 637 starts in the NBA since coming into the league in 2012 is a tough habit to break.
That’s why Drummond always sees himself a starter. Ten minutes off the bench? Still a starter. A bigger workload of 22 minutes off the bench? Still a starter. Actually starting, like he has the last seven games with center Nikola Vucevic dealing with a groin injury? No biggie, just back home — as a starter.
It’s a mindset that comes in very handy.
‘‘Him and I have a really good relationship, really support each other,’’ Vucevic said of playing with Drummond. ‘‘You know it’s not easy for him to go from starter, All-Star, a 20-20 guy on some nights, to having to take on a smaller role, so it says a lot about him.
‘‘Whenever he comes in, like when I was injured, he plays well for us. His rebounding per minute has to be off the charts. He always stays ready, he’s always positive, and that says a lot about him and his character.’’
Drummond’s rebounds per minute (a league-high 0.63) are off the charts. In the seven games he has started — the Bulls are 4-3 in those games — some other numbers have been pretty good, too. He not only has averaged 14 points on 56.8% shooting from the field during that time, but he also has averaged 17.4 rebounds.
But his recent play comes with a reality check. Vucevic came off the bench the last two games so coach Billy Donovan could better manage the minutes restriction he was on. That will end Wednesday against the Rockets, with Donovan indicating Vucevic and guard Zach LaVine (right foot) each showed enough in the Bulls’ overtime victory Monday against the Hornets to get back into the starting lineup.
When Donovan was asked why Vucevic would play ahead of Drummond, he was clear in his reply.
‘‘Vooch brings a different thing to the table as far as what he does offensively,’’ Donovan said.
Translation: Basketball is still a game about stretching the floor with outside shooters, and Vucevic is a threat from out there.
That doesn’t mean what Drummond does isn’t appreciated. While some organizations and coaches might consider his skills a bit outdated, Donovan embraces them.
‘‘Here’s a guy who was an All-Star, a max player, an elite offensive and defensive rebounder for his career, and I think as the game has changed people have looked at that position as not maybe nearly as valuable as shooting or two-way guys that can defend and play offense as well,’’ Donovan said.
‘‘I also think the things that he does do are valuable on any team. If he can really rim-protect, if he can rebound and then be an elite roller to the basket, there is a place in the game for him. He doesn’t need to be a [shooter].’’
What Donovan now has to figure out is how to use Drummond off the bench again and what his rotation will look like. This might be as healthy as the Bulls have been for most of the season, and a lot of guys were getting heavier minutes while others were out.
‘‘It’s definitely a good problem to have, especially when we had quite a bit of injuries and were short-handed for quite a while,’’ Vucevic said. “Definitely a positive headache for Billy. One good thing about this team is no matter who went down, there’s a next-man-up mentality.’’
Or, in Drummond’s case, a starter’s mentality.
