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Andre Drummond will make his Los Angeles Lakers debut in their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, Frank Vogel announced after practice on Tuesday. He also confirmed Athletic’s Jovan Buha report on Monday that Drummond will walk away with Marc Gasol, the latter having started more games at center (38) than anyone on the squad this season.

“It’s going to start tomorrow night,” Vogel said. “We’ll be keeping an eye on his minutes – I don’t know what it’s going to look like – but he looks to be in really good shape. It is clear that he has been working really hard during this free time, but there is no real simulation like playing a game.

Drummond hasn’t played an NBA basketball game since February 12, but apparently it wasn’t evident during his first-team training with the Lakers.

“He looked great,” Vogel said. “I think our squad felt a kind of energy boost after we welcomed a guy like that to our squad mid-season: someone we know can help us, a good guy who’s going to do it. integrate into our chemistry and everything. And he played really well … Everything we thought we were going to get in him he showed in training today. We are delighted to have him there.

Drummond was equally excited to launch out with his teammates for the first time.

“The level of excitement for me is at an all time high,” Drummond said. “To be off work for a month and a few days is crazy for basketball, and especially for me to never be in that situation. Having the opportunity to play again, I am blessed, honored and excited to take this opportunity and make the most of it.

Photo by Bart Young / NBAE via Getty Images

Being brought into a new situation can be difficult for a player, especially when brought in mid-season like Drummond. However, there is a certain level of familiarity with the Lakers for Drummond.

To begin with, the team’s general manager, Rob Pelinka, was Drummond’s agent for two years. Drummond fired Pelinka in 2014. Additionally, two of Drummond’s former teammates – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Markieff Morris – are with the Lakers, which he says made his transition to the team easier.

“From the moment I got here they showed me everything I needed to know, they gave me all the film I needed to be able to learn their plans offensively and defensively,” a declared Drummond. “To be on the same pitch again as them was an incredible feeling. With Pope, I haven’t played with him for a few years, and with Markieff, playing with him last year, the chemistry was already there.

Drummond said he hoped Caldwell-Pope and Morris let Vogel know he was a capable passer, but Vogel said he trusted everyone on the team to make the smart pass. The area where Drummond or his teammates didn’t need to sell Vogel was his defense.

“He’s had a million flights in practice,” Vogel said with a chuckle. “Maybe some of them were fouls, but I think we let him get away with a little more than usual. But he has exceptional hands in pick and roll defense and post-defense, putting pressure on the big guys trying to facilitate from the top of the key, and I think that’s going to be a real strength in what he brings defensively for us. .

Lakers fans will have the opportunity to see what the team saw in practice on Tuesday when Drummond makes his debut against the Bucks on Wednesday. The tip-off will take place at 7 p.m. PT, and the game will air on ESPN.

Notes and updates

• LeBron James (high right ankle sprain), Anthony Davis (right calf strain) and Jared Dudley (right MCL tear) remain out for the Lakers.

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