SVG wants Drummond to dominate defensive end like DeAndre Jordan

Stan Van Gundy is hoping for big things from Andre Drummond next season.

After watching his starting center struggle in 2016-17, the Pistons' head coach wants Drummond to channel his inner-DeAndre Jordan and focus his energy on defense during the upcoming campaign.

"The step, to me, for Andre is to do a little bit of what DeAndre Jordan does and dominate the game at the defensive end of the floor," Van Gundy told Keith Langlois of NBA.com. "Become that All-Defense type of guy. Because he’s already a historically great rebounder and to add to that becoming a great defender and build his game from there and everything to be built around the basket - his pick and rolls, going to the rim, running the floor, all of that."

Van Gundy believes that Drummond's recent weight loss could help him significantly next season, giving him the endurance needed to dominate for longer stretches.

"He’s worked hard this summer to get himself in better shape and be able to play with more energy for longer periods of time," Van Gundy said. "I think that’s the biggest step he could take this summer beyond any skill thing."

The 23-year-old averaged 13.6 points, 13.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks on 53 percent shooting for the Pistons this past season.