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Tuesday, April 16, 2024 | Back issues
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NBA’s Andre Drummond Faces Extortion Suit

DETROIT (CN) - Andre Drummond tried to extort the business that customized his Mercedes Benz, a car shop claims in court, saying the Detroit Pistons star lied that its work put his life at risk.

Dynamic Customs says Drummond hired it earlier this year to customize his rims, wrap the exterior, and tint and custom hand craft the interior to match.

The 21-year-old's satisfaction with the work was evident by his March 12, 2015, post to his Twitter account, Dynamic's complaint in Wayne County Circuit Court states.

That post allegedly said "Big thanks to @bobbyjournaa for doing a great job on my car. Check them out!!"

Drummond's mood quickly soured, however, and he demanded that Dynamic refund the cost of the customization work "or he would ruin" Dynamic on social media, the June 5 complaint states.

Even Drummond's brother Ryan got in on the action, "demanding that his car be customized for free, along with a complete refund for" Drummond, Dynamic says.

With Drummond threatening that his attorney had "the papers ready," the basketball star sent texts to Dynamic demanding $10,000.

Drummond allegedly said "falsely that the work performed by plaintiff on defendant's vehicle put defendant's life at risk."

He threatened Dynamic that if it didn't pay up, he would "'Tweet' pictures of what plaintiff did to his car," the complaint states.

On May 11, Drummond told his 908,000 Twitter followers: "If you are from MI, never ever go to @DynamicCustoms to get your car worked on. They have done things to my car that could have cost my life," according to the complaint.

Dynamic seeks damages for libel, tortuous interference and extortion.

It is represented by Alexander Benson in Southfield.

Drummond's representatives have not returned a request for comment.

When the Pistons drafted him in 2012, Drummond had played one year of college basketball at the University of Connecticut.

Last year, Drummond helped the U.S. Men's National Basketball Team win a gold medal at the FIBA World Cup.

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