As the New York Knicks celebrated the raising of their 2026 NBA championship banner, Andre Drummond decided to remain in the team's locker room and let his teammates enjoy their moment.
In the aftermath of the Knicks' opening night loss against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, Drummond explained his reason why he didn't join his team's title party.
"If I want to earn it, I want to be able to experience that because I was a part of it. I let those guys have their moment," Drummond explained.
"I feel like I've got to earn it. I don't want to experience something that I wasn't there for."
Andre Drummond shows class as Knicks teammates celebrate 2026 NBA title banner
Led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, the New York Knicks accepted their rings and raised their title banner at the Madison Square Garden rafters to start their 2026-27 NBA season on Tuesday.
Drummond's gesture and decision to let his teammates enjoy their moment is a classy one, which only makes his early Knicks tenure even more promising.
The former NBA star joined New York this past offseason via a one-year, $3.9 million veteran minimum contract, serving as the team's replacement for the departed Mitchell Robinson.
Drummond was solid in his Knicks debut on Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers, finishing with 12 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists in 24 minutes of action.