Pistons' Drummond has new mind-set: I'm tired of losing

Andre Drummond was a victim of the progress along Woodward Avenue.

The Detroit Pistons' third-year center was a little late to the Detroit Institute of Arts' private viewing of the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo exhibit for selected season-ticket holders and partners Tuesday night — falling prey to M-1 Rail construction.

But when he arrived midway through the presentation of Pistons president/coach Stan Van Gundy and Palace Sports & Entertainment president Dennis Mannion, he displayed a noticeably thinner physique.

Drummond mingled briefly at the event honoring PS&E's involvement in the Grand Bargain, which helped spare the DIA's art collection from creditors during Detroit's bankruptcy saga. He then told reporters that he took two weeks off after the regular-season finale at New York in mid-April.

It has been constant work since, as he said he is taking conditioning seriously this off-season. He added that he is sick of losing, having never experienced the NBA playoffs.

And it's not all about his eligibility to sign a maximum contract extension this off-season.

"It's just a mentality," Drummond said. "I just have the mind-set right now that I don't think has been there before. I told myself this is a big summer for me. Obviously, everybody knows it's my contract year, but it's not even because of that.

"I'm just so tired of losing that it comes down to me and what I'm doing on the floor and that if I'm not in the best condition, the best playing shape, I can't do nothing for my team.

"I'm willing to take this summer real seriously to really become a better leader and show everybody that I'm here to get the program where it needs to be."

Contact Vince Ellis at vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.