Perhaps most notably, Bryant had a plethora of issues with dislocated fingers. Lakers head coach Phil Jackson smartly managed Bynums minutes during the playoffs. When Philadelphia sports fans were working themselves into a frenzy over Bynum sitting out the entirety of last season, he did it while sporting increasingly ridiculous haircuts. The Lakers shipped Andrew Bynum, who was still just 24 at the time, to the Philadelphia 76ers in August 2012 in the four-team deal that brought Dwight Howard to LA. He was named an All-Star and selected to the All-NBA team in 2012. When Bryant was shooting blanks against Denver in that 6-for-28 game, Bynum was putting up 18 points and 16 rebounds on 7-for-12 shooting. "Obviously the talent is there to win a championship from a starter's point of view, anyway. Bynum helped the Lakers start to a 2611 record, which was at the time the best record in the Pacific Division. In the final year that high school players were allowed to jump straight to the NBA, the LA Lakers selected Andrew Bynum with the 10th overall pick of the 2005 NBA draft. I don't know when I'll be back. Sports: Fear the Sword, from before Bynum's suspension, on how his play was hurting the Cavs. Andrew Bynum Accolades while with Kobe: NBA champion in 2009 and 2010, All-Star in 2012, All-NBA 2nd Team in 2012. Aaron Bynum Obituary - Coshocton, OH - Dignity Memorial On this date: Kobe, Andrew Bynum dominate Lob City - LeBron Wire O'Donnell: Andrew Bynum's irreconcilable differences with basketball, The Hook: Sixers, Suns show off the new 1-year rebuild, Joe Johnson keeps killing teams at the buzzer. Well, just imagine if Anthony Davis, instead of politely requesting a trade, hoisted up half-court shots every time he touched the ball in practice as a means of facilitating his departure from the New Orleans Pelicans. Forty-nine playoff appearances in 53 seasons -- that doesn't just happen to normal teams. [8] During his junior and senior year at St. Joseph High School, Bynum finished his high school career averaging 19.2 points, 14.9 rebounds, and 5.6 blocks in 32 appearances. All told, Bynum appeared in just 418 regular season games from 2005-2014, averaging 11.5 points on 55.6%. max-width: 100%; To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. It's kind of ridiculous. He was benched for it. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers. Those are shots that I practice, he said. A teenaged Bynum was the target of trade speculation in a deal that would have sent Jason Kidd to the Lakers, prompting Bryant to be caught on camera saying, "Andrew Bynum? "It's just a shame. During the Lakers' run to the 2010 championship, Bynum played every one of the Lakers' 23 playoff games with a torn meniscus in his right knee. It was a glitch in the the never-released EA Sports video game NBA Elite 11. Kobe Bryant wasn't convinced because, well, you can never convince Kobe he's not the best option. NBA Basketball Professional sport Sports . Bynum attended St. Joseph High School, in Metuchen, New Jersey during his junior and senior year. He played the majority of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Eligibility restrictions apply. His inability to stay healthy and concerns about his desire and mental health and attitude have always been there. Andrew Bynum Says Dwight Howard Will Have To Adjust To 'Playing With The demos of the NBA Live reboot were plagued with many issues and when videos of the Laker center freezing at . He rebuilt and enhanced everything from cars to computers to phones. Andrew Bynum? Although knee injuries that had plagued Andrew Bynum since he was 12 years old continued to surface, the youngster was getting better each and every year. Remember Andrew Bynum? After a while, it started to feel like a taunt. At least Dwight was on the court most of the season. Bynum, who missed the entire 2012-13 season with a knee injury after being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, signed a partially-guaranteed, one-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers the following summer. The Lakers wouldn't be in a better place. Indeed, he chose to put off surgery until after the season. So throughout the season, as Bynum gnashed, Kobe continued to shoot more than twice as frequently as the center. Both Bynum and O'Neal received technical fouls for the incident. Lets just all be aware of the flip side, though. Lakers: Andrew Bynum, Revisited - Sports Illustrated The former All-Star was a critical piece in LA's frontcourt, averaging 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds while serving as a vital rim protector. [46] It was the third consecutive season his knee injuries impacted the Lakers postseason. The Lakers went to the NBA Finals that season but lost to the Boston Celtics. Eligibility restrictions apply. Bynum, meanwhile, has yet to suit up for the Sixers but sounded optimistic about his health on Sunday. In the 68 combined regular season and playoff games that Bynum played in 2008-09, he fouled out once, committed five fouls 15 times, and was called for four fouls . He then signed with the Indiana Pacers for the remainder of the 201314 season. But by the end of his time in L.A., Bynum felt that Bryant's ball-dominant ways hurt his development as one of the league's best centers. Bryant was playing with a right knee of his own that was in disrepair and required him to have it drained three times during the playoffs. [99] Reportedly, the incentive-laden contract could pay him up to $24.79 million over two years. }. On February 2, 2009 it was revealed that Bynum had suffered a torn MCL in his right knee and would be out 812 weeks. LOS ANGELES -- There is a certain standard of excellence that Kobe Bryant chooses to surround himself with. He gave his best. [62] After the Lakers defeated the New Orleans Hornets in the first round, 42, Hornets head coach Monty Williams said, "Kobe's Kobe, but I thought Bynum decided the series. Bynum was an even bigger piece of the puzzle when the Lakers won their second consecutive title in 2010, staying mostly healthy and averaging a then-career-high 15 points per game. "Same thing with me and Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal). In Los Angeles Lakers' Andrew Bynum, Kobe Bryant sees some of - ESPN Bynum has yet to be able to run, however. Bynum had been a McDonalds All-American his senior year at St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, New Jersey, averaging 22.4 points, 16.8 rebounds, and 5.3 blocks per game. It was the case even before that as well, as ananonymous former teammate once said: "Ive never met another player in the league who likes basketball less [than Bynum]. The Lakers did win this game barely despite Bynum playing only five minutes of the second half.And its imperative to note that Bryant needed to try those tough shots and miss at some time previously if he ever was to make them now. "For sure, because when you're playing with me you obviously have to sacrifice something," Bryant said. "Are you kidding me? Andrew Bynum could've been greater Though the Dallas Mavericks swept the Lakers in the following round, it was a pretty good postseason performance for Bynum. Howard immediately and thoroughly clashed with Kobe, more than Bynum ever had, and left of his own volition, giving. "I thought it really helped me a lot obviously at first, because he draws so much attention it's hard for guys to double team and key on you, so it helped me tremendously," Bynum told a group of L.A. reporters before the Lakers played the Sixers on Sunday. "They got injuries and they're not posting the ball, so, that's tough too. Bynum was injured upon liberty and never played a minute for Philadelphia. Prada's Pictures: The Knicks' sad, terrible defense, Joel Embiid injury updates: 76ers star out for Celtics Game 1 with knee sprain, NBA Scores: Steph Curry erupts to send Warriors into second round, The Grizzlies humbling NBA Playoff run could be the best thing for their future, NBA Playoffs 2023: Bracket, start dates, TV times, matchups, scores for second round, NBA Scores: Jamal Murray fuels Nuggets Game 1 domination of Suns, 2023 NBA playoffs round two preview: Nuggets vs Suns. That Bynum's attempt to resuscitate an injury-savaged career didn't pan out hardly registers as a shock. [39] It was a role Bynum had previously resisted. During Brown's interview for the position, Lakers executive Jim Buss said Bynum needed to receive the ball inside, and Brown planned for Bynum to get the ball "more than what he did in the past." The two always had more in common than people cared to realize -- they both were drafted into the league out of high school at just 17 years old; Bynum's hometown of Plainsboro, N.J., is just 50 miles away from Lower Merion, Pa., where Bryant matriculated; they both had a dominant, veteran superstar to contend with starting from their rookie season (Bryant had O'Neal; Bynum has Bryant); plus nobody on the Lakers' roster can appreciate Bryant's Lamborghini as much as the car-crazed Bynum. Without Bynum, the Lakers made it to the 2008 NBA Finals, but lost to the Boston Celtics in six games. Andrew Bynum's irreconcilable differences with basketball Bryant defends Bynum in the press, even going so far as to create a rationale for the big man's ill-timed three-point shooting. Its also a credo he instilled with teammates. I think that's the biggest positive about him aside from all the physical attributes.". I was in that position, and obviously I have a lot of experience in dealing with myself and playing with Shaquille when Shaquille was young and being mentored by Phil (Jackson) and things like that. "You want to play against your old team always," Bynum said. [19] His first career double-double on November 7 included a season-high 20 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks against the Minnesota Timberwolves. [94] Since training camp, Bynum had been firm that he would make his debut for Philadelphia, and had targeted the All-Star break for his return. The former All-Star was a critical piece in LAs frontcourt, averaging 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds while serving as a vital rim protector. Another team may think they can around Bynum, but the last two years are starting to feel like a death sentence for his basketball career. It wasn't the easiest thing for a 19-year-old flung into premature adulthood to hear. He never liked it that much in first place. Andrew Bynum is, unfortunately, just one more what if story. Bynum stayed on the bench most of the second half instead of getting up to encourage teammates or take part in strategic huddles, showing immaturity with his disappointment. When you're 7-feet tall, coordinated and have soft hands, the game chooses the player as much as the player chooses the game.