In a game against the Miami Heat on January 16, 2006, Bynum matched up against former Laker center Shaquille O'Neal for the first time. "Obviously I've been off for quite some time now. 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. [84] After the Lakers led the series 31, Bynum said, "Close-out games are actually kind of easy. The Lakers revised their defense to have big men no longer were responsible for the perimeter against guards coming off screens, and Lakers' defenders would instead funnel the plays inside to Bynum. Bryant is playing with a torn ligament in his right (shooting) wrist that he hurt only two weeks ago, yet he has played in all seven of the Lakers' regular-season games since then. [74][87] On August 10, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in a four-team deal that also sent Dwight Howard from the Magic to the Lakers and Andre Iguodala from the 76ers to the Denver Nuggets. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). From ages 18-24, Bynum's year-to-year improvements were remarkable. I don't know when I'll be back. Bryant and Bynum have grown closer this season, particularly through traveling together via private jet to and from the All-Star Game in Orlando. One such injury came during the 2009-10 season, when Kobe suffered an avulsion fracture in his right index finger. Kentucky's Julius Randle is seen as one of the top prospects in the loaded 2014 draft, but one key measurable throws a lot of doubt on whether his game will translate from college to the pros. So throughout the season, as Bynum gnashed, Kobe continued to shoot more than twice as frequently as the center. [29] After Bynum's injury, the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies. Bynum helped the Lakers start to a 2611 record, which was at the time the best record in the Pacific Division. [37] On the next night, January 22, versus the Washington Wizards he scored 23 points to go along with 14 rebounds. }. Gambling Problem? Bynum could still not pinpoint the exact stress that caused his knees to become hurt in the offseason, noting that whatever happened came during his regular offseason training regimen. He had the chance to be an elite player and it really never happened, even with the one All-Star selection and the two titles. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). [49] "It's not the most serious (injury)", Bynum said of his torn meniscus. 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. Heres our first projection of the 2024 NFL Draft class. He signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he briefly played before being traded to the Chicago Bulls, who subsequently released him. Bynum gave the Lakers advance notice hours, not weeks, before the opening of training camp. McMenamin: In Bynum, Bryant sees a reflection, 'That was crazy, no cap': How one wild sequence helped the 76ers steal Game 1, 'Aggressive' Harden takes over as 76ers stun C's, Suns' Paul leaves G2 loss with left groin tightness, Horford: Celtics let up defensively with Embiid out, Butler gets treatment on ankle; still iffy for G2, LeBron 'locked in' as rivalry with Steph resumes, Calipari thanks Bryants for package honoring Gigi, 'It's going to be epic': Stephen Curry and LeBron James face off -- again, Tigers coach fumes at Zaire v Dwyane comparisons after loss, Pregame chats, language arts and 'a lot of fines': Inside NBA player-ref dynamics. Andrew stands at 7ft (2.13m) tall, while he weighs approximately 285lbs ~ 129kgs. Now, 33 years old and in his 16th season, he is gauging the 24-year-old Andrew Bynum's preparedness to be that same torchbearer for excellence as the center embarks on the seventh season of a career in which he's already missed 164 (or exactly two season's worth of) games. Miraculously, Orlando won that massive trade despite being the only team that didn't get an All-Star back. Without Bynum, the Lakers made it to the 2008 NBA Finals, but lost to the Boston Celtics in six games. Andrew Bynum Accolades while with Kobe: NBA champion in 2009 and 2010, All-Star in 2012, All-NBA 2nd Team in 2012. Bynums last day with the Cavaliers, needless to say, will live in league infamy forever. LeBron James, Miami Heat. [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. When you're 7-feet tall, coordinated and have soft hands, the game chooses the player as much as the player chooses the game. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. He was that good. That was the mantra Kobe Bryant embraced during his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. [69] Bynum was awarded Western Conference Player of the Week honors for the second time of his young career for games played Monday, March 12, through Sunday, March 18. But I'm just looking forward to getting back on the treadmill and running for the first time this entire summer.". F------ ship his ass out,". Void in ONT. That every move the Lakers made had to be done in the context of allowing Kobe and Bynum to co-exist, or to avoid the coming war. Pau Gasol, who has inherited the co-captain title from Derek Fisher, was more by the book in his reaction, siding with the coaches when it comes to playing the right way. ", If you know anything about Bynum, the math checks out. He reportedly was constantly disrespectful to his teammates and the coaching staff, and his desire to play the game came into question, which is something that certainly doesnt sit well when Kobe Bryant is on your team. The 2011-2012 season would be the peak of Andrew Bynums career in the NBA but also his last with the Los Angeles Lakers. It was his body. [78] Bynum only missed one game the entire season due to injury (ankle). But by the time he was 21, Bynum was widely considered the best center in basketball this side ofDwight Howard. 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. That's essentially been the chief narrative surrounding Bynum the last two seasons. 2," Bynum said, referring to the Lakers acquiring the 27-year-old Dwight Howard as the major part of the four-team exchange that landed him in Philly. 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. 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[54] He returned to the lineup for the start of the playoffs. 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. Bynum was an All-American player in high school before he decided to forgo college and enter the NBA. [27] The Lakers would exercise a fourth-year contract option on Bynum.[28]. I think he was testing the limits of his game, Bryant said. Bryant hinted that Brown overreacted by immediately walking down the bench and pointing at Josh McRoberts to replace Bynum then benching Bynum again early in the fourth quarter when he kept dominating the offense to little avail. There teams REALLY helped themselves over the weekend and could surprise. But he wasnt angry after the game, remaining cheerful not unlike how young Kobe often was in learning to make peace with others not understanding he simply had to push those limits to be true to himself. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Sports: Fear the Sword, from before Bynum's suspension, on how his play was hurting the Cavs. [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. I swear, thats it. Still, Bynum's psyche was never the real part of him that had an adversarial relationship with the game. Bynum played an entire season with a small tear in his meniscus in 2010 -- a less severe version of the injury that sidelined Russell Westbrook for six months and has Derrick Rose set to miss the season. He offered a simple response when asked about his reactions to news of Bynums injury. The odds of winning are dependent on the number of entries. Kobe Bean Bryant (/ k o b i / KOH-bee; August 23, 1978 - January 26, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Bynum was injured upon liberty and never played a minute for Philadelphia. [33] He missed 46 games due to the injury,[34] and finished the season with averages of 13.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks and a .636 field goal percentage. And now people arent frowning anymore because hes making it. All told, Bynum appeared in just 418 regular season games from 2005-2014, averaging 11.5 points on 55.6%. On January 13, 2008, he suffered an injury during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City . It's hard to blame him if his heart wasn't 100 percent in it. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Dave McMenamin covers the Lakers for ESPNLosAngeles.com. I think that's the biggest positive about him aside from all the physical attributes.". When asked about his first career 20-20 game, Bynum did not boast, saying, "It was about time.". Andrew Bynum (right) played seven seasons with Kobe Bryant (left) on the Los Angeles Lakers. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). Many think he never put enough effort into rehabbing his injuries, which may be why they kept happening. To me, everybody kind of frowned when he was shooting that turnaround jumper in the post, Bryant said. On January 27, 2009, in a double overtime loss against the Charlotte Bobcats, Bynum committed a flagrant foul, fracturing the rib and subsequently collapsing the lung of Gerald Wallace of the Bobcats. An "obviously disinterested Bynum jacking up wild shots at practice" was the straw that broke the camel's back in Cleveland. Lets just all be aware of the flip side, though. [57], On March 14, Bynum tied his career high in rebounds with 18 against Howard and the Magic.[58]. He never liked it that much in first place. Bynum attended St. Joseph High School, in Metuchen, New Jersey during his junior and senior year. Indeed, he chose to put off surgery until after the season. "Are you kidding me? [52] In his first 24 games played during the season, Bynum averaged 24.6 minutes per game and 27.4 minutes in 17 games as a starter. While Bynum has been sidelined, he's paid attention to the struggles of his former team. None of that is Kobe's fault. While Bryant thrived, the Lakers did not and finished with a 34-48 record, missing the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. On April 5, in a loss to the Utah Jazz, he grabbed a career high 23 rebounds. Bryant played through an assortment of physical maladies. L.A. landed one of the few centers better than a healthy Bynum in Dwight Howard and Bynum landed in a city where he could be the undisputed star. [15] In his second season, Bynum was still the youngest player in the league,[16] due to his draft year being the last that a player could be drafted straight out of high school. Bynum said he would make the same decision again to delay the surgery until after his vacation, even with the knowledge that it would cost him a portion of the upcoming regular season. It was the case when he missed all of last season in Philadelphia, a year in which his last reported injury was sustained while bowling. Needless to say, he didnt have much to offer when news of Andrew Bynums knee issues arose in May 2010. The Lakers wouldn't be in a better place. He did not trash Bynum at all, just simply stated they should have sent him out because "This is Jason Kidd were talking about." It was hoop talk, not trash talk. width: 100%; After three straight West banners and two consecutive NBA championships, the order was upset whenAndrew Bynum finally usurped Pau Gasol as L.A.'s best big man and perhaps the Lakers' most effective weapon. 12/30: Kings, Pelicans vindicate NBA rescues, 12/20: Rookie coaches struggling on defense, Pacers still No. "I'm going to get it taken care of, and then everything is supposed to be cool. The Nets were extremely interested in sending Jason Kidd to LA, a trade that obviously never happened. "I think he was testing the l [86], On June 4, 2012, the Lakers exercised their $16.1-million team option on Bynum's contract for the 201213 season. "Later, I felt I was able to get the ball more and do more things with the ball, so I could definitely see how it could stunt growth.". Adrian Wojnarowski in 2014, back then with Yahoo Sports. Posted by Love Sharing on 2017 m. rugsjo 24 d., sekmadienis. Death toll rises as Russia bombards Ukraine's cities for a fourth day. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. There is definitely some merit to Bynum's theory that playing alongside Kobe kept the ball out of his hands. [76][77] Bynum finished the regular season with career highs in minutes per game (tied NBA 24th overall), rebounds per game (NBA 3rd overall), and points per game (NBA 20th overall). 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. He signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead of the 2013-2014 season, the season that would prove to be his last in the NBA. [110], On March 11, 2014, Bynum made his Pacers debut with 8 points and 10 rebounds in 15 minutes in a 9483 win over the Boston Celtics. You kind of off-set each other to a certain extent. Here is a quick look at Thrope's rankings for the Post-Season MVP: Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers. Andrew Bynum, Kobe Bryant and what never couldbe, The entire NFL screwed up by letting the Eagles win the draft so easily. Odds and lines subject to change. ", "They got to make a commitment to defense, No. On December 28, Bynum was suspended indefinitely by the Cavaliers for conduct detrimental to the team;[103] he had been thrown out of practice after shooting the ball every time he received it, regardless of how far he was from the basket. There are only 19 players ever to post a PER over 20 four times before turning 25, and he's one of them. But Bryant was certainly wishing it had gone down. Having long understood the determination it took to win a championship, Kobe showed little sympathy for Bynums plight. Bryant, who said he met with Bynum for 3-4 minutes after he put up 34 points in the Lakers' 111-98 win over the Sixers, was not offended by his former teammate's remarks. 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Shaq ripped a giant lasagna fart on the air and had to air out the studio, The entire NFL screwed up by letting the Eagles win the draft so easily. The quote speaks to Bryants mentality. Two years later, Bynum enjoyed the best season of his career, earning his first and only NBA All-Star nod, averaging 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds. They are above it. Rather than complain about Bryant's shot total compared to his, Bynum put the onus on himself, saying that it's his responsibility to get in better shape and run the floor faster to earn more touches. You must have a YouTube account/email to enter. During the 2009 exit interviews, Kobe Bryant talks about Andrew Bynum's offseason, "sacrificing" to keep the team intact and his own contract situation. What the f---?" One way or another, fate felled the Lakers. He later helped the Lakers to back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010, the high points of a career that ended sooner and in stranger circumstances than anyone could have anticipated. "It doesn't really matter to me where I play as long as I get to," Bynum said. Those concerns were validated when Bynum missed the entire 2012-2013 season and never once suited up for Philly after having yet another knee surgery. [49], A longer than expected recovery period was needed for Bynum's surgery that caused him to miss the beginning of the 201011 NBA season. [19] His first career double-double on November 7 included a season-high 20 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks against the Minnesota Timberwolves. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. OAKLAND - I asked Kobe Bryant what he thought about Andrew Bynum launching that 3-pointer that got him benched by Lakers coach Mike Brown on Tuesday night. [67], On January 3 against the Houston Rockets, Bynum had 21 points and 22 rebounds in the first 2020 game of his career. In Kobe, Bynum had a thick layer of protection from scrutiny. Ive been there.. 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. You dont see me sitting here trippin or sweatin or anything like that. Giveaway is in no way endorsed or sponsored by YouTube* [7] In his junior year of high school Bynum averaged 16.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 6.0 blocks. 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. On Christmas Day against the Phoenix Suns, he made 11-of-13 shots for 28 points to complement 12 boards, 4 assists and 2 blocks. Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09. However, the only teammate he's kept in touch with is Pau Gasol, and he also hasn't spoken to Howard since the trade. Void in ONT. In the 2005 NBA draft, Bynum was selected 10th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. A Lakers team without Bynum certainly could have been more vulnerable. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. It was a role Bynum had previously resisted. Bynum missed the entire 201213 season because of knee problems. Bryant and the Lakers were gunning for back-to-back championships during the 2009-10 season, but a late injury to young center Andrew Bynum threatened to derail their title hopes. [2] His parents, Ernest Bynum and Janet McCoy, divorced when he was a one year old. Bryant is a ball-dominator, after all. So thats the only way were going to get it done.. Those are shots that I practice, he said. Bynum was born in Plainsboro Township, New Jersey. Remember Andrew Bynum? He led the Lakers to a 31 week, leading the West in rebounding (14.8 rpg) and placed second in scoring (27.5) while shooting .665 from the field (fourth in the Conference). "For sure, because when you're playing with me you obviously have to sacrifice something," Bryant said. Kobe Bryant wasn't convinced because, well, you can never convince Kobe he's not the best option. "Are you kidding me? He gave his best. 1, streaking Warriors knocking on top 5, Los Angeles Lakers blog Silver Screen and Roll, 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. The two-time Lakers champion had played his final pro game at the ripe old age of 26. Yes, yes and yes: The rest of the NBA should also be scared to death that Andrew Bynum is becoming more and more like Kobe Bryant. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. This isnt just a draft that builds the future, but a potential dynasty. In 2006-2007, the only season he appeared in all 82 games, Bynum saw his minutes go up, and his averages obviously went up as a result to 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds. [81][82][83], In a 10388 win against the Nuggets in the opening game of the playoffs, Bynum had a triple-double with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 blocked shots. "Because we will talk about you like a dog, like a chump. It was a glitch in the the never-released EA Sports video game NBA Elite 11. [17], With Lakers centers Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown injured at the start of 200607, Bynum was the starting center for the first 15 games of the season.