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Sixers All-Star Makes Decision on Player Option

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Jun 27, 2025 2:21 PM ET

A former All-Star Philadelphia 76ers vet has made a decision on his player option for the 2025-26 NBA season.

In 2024-25, Philadelphia had one of the most disappointing years in recent memory, relative to preseason expectations.

Sixers general manager Daryl Morey enjoyed a splashy 2024 summer.

Morey brought in nine-time All-Star forward Paul George on a four-year, $211.6 million maximum contract, but he hardly stopped there.

Morey also poached forward Caleb Martin from the Miami Heat as a free agent, signed seasoned vets Eric Gordon, K.J. Martin, Reggie Jackson, Guerschon Yabusele and Andre Drummond, and re-signed returning pros Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kyle Lowry.

Most critically, the Sixers retained incumbent All-Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey on long-term new deals.

But things went south quickly, amid health and chemistry issues. Philadelphia ultimately cratered, going just 24-58 and finishing 13th in the East. The 76ers plummeted into the NBA draft lottery this summer, and selected All-Big Ten Baylor swingman V.J. Edgecombe with the No. 3 overall pick.

2024-25 had marked the start of Drummond's second tour of duty with the franchise. The 6-foot-11 reserve center initially inked a free agent deal with the Sixers to back up Embiid in 2021-22, but was flipped to the Brooklyn Nets midway through the season. He signed a two-year, $10 million deal to return to the franchise last summer, with a player option for 2025-26.

Sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype that Drummond, still a rebounding machine even in his relative dotage, intends to pick up his $5 million player option for next year.

JUST IN: Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond will exercise his $5 million player option for the 2025-26 season, league sources told @hoopshype. During his career, Drummond has been an All-NBA selection in 2016, a two-time All-Star, and a four-time rebounding champion. pic.twitter.com/Ymg4vEdbxK
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 27, 2025

Last season with Philadelphia, Drummond averaged 7.3 points and 7.8 rebounds in just 18.8 minutes per, although he was healthy for a career-low 40 games. While the Sixers may face an uncertain future with George and Embiid aging rapidly, Drummond can provide a steadying frontcourt presence — at least when it comes to cleaning the glass and nabbing effective putbacks.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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