He nodded because he knows far better than anyone how hard it was to be the young Kobe pushing against authority, convention and, yes, the limits of his game. The Hook: Kobe, Bynum and the death throes of LA's mini-dynasty, Prada: Streaking Golden State Warriors blending old with new, Dennis Rodman's North Korea dream team roster is spectacular, Rick Carlisle blasts New York media in support of Mike Woodson, Andrew Bynum suspended indefinitely by Cavaliers, City of Cleveland wasn't an issue for Bynum, 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. [99] Reportedly, the incentive-laden contract could pay him up to $24.79 million over two years. He's built a remote control car that could go 100 MPH and what was deemed "the George Jetson of computers.". The Hook: Kobe, Bynum and the death throes of LA's mini-dynasty Prada: Streaking Golden State Warriors blending old with new Dennis Rodman's North Korea dream team roster is spectacular Bynum's actions were condemned by the sports news media, and he was suspended four games for the next season and fined $25,000. [84] After the Lakers led the series 31, Bynum said, "Close-out games are actually kind of easy. Thats why its not that big a deal to me. .m-sbnation-2014-nfl-playoff-coverage img { [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. Bynum put it all on the line, and his contributions helped Kobe Bryant and the Lakers get across the finish line en route to back-to-back titles. As one league source told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! What the f---?" My 4 favorite team hauls from the 2023 NFL Draft, 5 rebuilding teams that nailed the 2023 NFL Draft. Bynum has yet to be able to run, however. [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). The 2009-10 Lakers won eight fewer games than the season before, but Kobe Bryant and Co. still looked like one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA entering the playoffs. [59], On April 12 against the San Antonio Spurs, Bynum hyper-extended his right knee [60] A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam revealed he had a bruised knee, and he missed the last game of the regular season. So, I mean, that's true. "I'm going to get it taken care of, and then everything is supposed to be cool. F------ ship his ass out,". 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. It's likely neither will matter one bit when the playoffs begin in April. He enjoyed fishing, singing, playing his bass guitar . 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. 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. Kobe can see himself in Andrew Bynum now - Orange County Register I dont know what was bench-worthy about the shot, to be honest with you, Bynum said. Bynum played 35 games and started in 25 games during the season. So the Lakers are not normal, they are exceptional. [54], On March 8, Bynum had his third straight game with at least 16 rebounds and had 50 rebounds and 12 blocks in that span. Fear the Sword runs through some possible options. Andrew Bynum has been named Western Conference Player of the Week. [50] Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register and Michael Rosenberg of Sports Illustrated criticized Bynum for his summer activities and not expecting complications based on his history with injuries and recovery time. It is ONLY a recommendation and free of choice. Remember Andrew 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. [13][14] During the game, he missed his two field goal attempts but had two rebounds and two blocks. Needless to say, he didnt have much to offer when news of Andrew Bynums knee issues arose in May 2010. Bynum rarely, if ever, complains about his injuries even though his knees have been through so much at this point that he actually ices them before games once he goes through his pregame workout. The Lakers went to the NBA Finals that season but lost to the Boston Celtics. He was born on June 6, 1974 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Deacon Aaron Bynum and Eldress Kathryn (White-Bynum) Pollard. ", Bryant was very supportive of Bynum in his comments, calling the 7-footer "really a special player at both ends of the floor." He never liked it that much in first place. He demanded his teammates to live up to his standards and fight through the pain. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). Indeed, there is more than one person from the Lakers inner circle fearing that Bynum is selfish at the core and cares more about his scoring stats than winning another championship. 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Cleveland, desperate for talent in the ugly on-court aftermath of LeBron James first Decision, didnt expect Bynum to regain the form that made him an All-Star with the Lakers, but at the very least saw him as a low-risk, high-reward signing capable of sopping up minutes in the middle. Kobe Bryant on Andrew Bynum, sacrifice and his contract 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. [42][45] The Lakers advanced to the 2009 NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic. In the 2005 NBA draft, Bynum was selected 10th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. 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. If Bynum has lost his passion for basketball, it's a byproduct of a body that never gave him a fair chance and a system that commodified it at too young an age. At one point, O'Neal dunked over Bynum on a putback attempt. [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. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City . All told, Bynum appeared in just 418 regular season games from 2005-2014, averaging 11.5 points on 55.6%. Andrew Bynum Accolades while with Kobe: NBA champion in 2009 and 2010, All-Star in 2012, All-NBA 2nd Team in 2012. 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. The Lakers laugh at organizational mortality. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. The Cavaliers deemed him such a nuisance to the operation that they're paying him to stay home until they can either trade him or waive him before Jan. 7 to avoid paying the second half of his $12 million salary. Andrew Bynum suffered a small tear of the meniscus in his right knee during the first round against the Oklahoma City Thunder. "The update really is I'm feeling much better, I would say, than the initial state of injury," Bynum said, detailing how he has been able to add shooting drills to his rehab process. Well address it as a team, as a unit, to make sure everybody is on the same page, Gasol said. So nothing really rattles me.. After they selected him in the first round of the 2005 NBA draft with the 10th overall pick, the 7-foot-0-inch (2.13m) center won two NBA championships with the team in 2009 and 2010. This is the paradox of the Kobe Bryant-Andrew Bynum relationship. [49] "It's not the most serious (injury)", Bynum said of his torn meniscus. Giveaway is in no way endorsed or sponsored by YouTube* 15 years ago, Kobe Bryant criticized the Lakers for not - Reddit But I'm just looking forward to getting back on the treadmill and running for the first time this entire summer.". [41] Still recovering from his knee injury, he played in the playoffs wearing an awkward knee brace. Despite the hair and the fact that he hasn't logged a minute with his new team yet because of knee problems, Bynum still has a very high opinion of where he currently ranks among the game's big men. [105] The same day, he was waived by the Bulls in a salary cap move that was projected to save Chicago more than $20 million and provide relief from paying the NBA's luxury tax. 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). 1, and No. You thought that the last week in the NBA was crazy? [40], Bynum missed the next 32 games. If Andrew Bynum's basketball career really is over, it's because of his body, not his mind. The demos of the NBA Live reboot were plagued with many issues and when videos of the Laker center freezing at . Thus, Bryant played with an injured pinkie and later a hurt index finger on his shooting hand throughout the 2009-10 campaign. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe Bryant Showed Zero Sympathy For Andrew Bynum's Injury Woes During 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. He was picked up by the Indiana Pacers but played just two games as a backup to Roy Hibbert before yet another knee injury ended his season and, ultimately, his career at just 26 years of age. "They got injuries and they're not posting the ball, so, that's tough too. The Lakers wouldn't be in a better place. On the next play, Bynum spun past O'Neal and dunked the ball. Lakers head coach Phil Jackson smartly managed Bynums minutes during the playoffs. Andrew Bynum suffered a small tear of the meniscus in his right knee during the first round against the Oklahoma City Thunder. [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. Five Lakers rotation players shot more frequently than Bynum per minute, and Bynum barely edged two more. Void in ONT. It's hard to blame him if his heart wasn't 100 percent in it. }. Not that Kobe expected anything less. He became the youngest player ever to play in an NBA game. [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. Andrew Bynum Says Dwight Howard Will Have To Adjust To 'Playing With Howard lacked that conditioning: in Orlando, he'd never had to defer to anyone but Stan Van Gundy, and he got over that eventually. He shared success with his fellow prep-to-pros product, making three NBA Finals, winning two championships and even both being named All-Stars last season. The Bynum conundrum, though, is the sort of real-life, make-or-break decision with the potential to cost whatever execs are involved their jobs if things go wrong (or make them stars if it all . Bynum would have been in the trainer's room (or the nearest bowling alley). Prada's Pictures: The Knicks' sad, terrible defense. [18] In his first career start, he scored 18 points and had nine rebounds against the Phoenix Suns on October 31, 2006. Perhaps most notably, Bryant had a plethora of issues with dislocated fingers. What makes Bynum's numbers even more impressive is that they . The only pot shot Bryant took was over Bynum's combed-down afro coif, saying, "I don't know what he's doing with that perm, but I guess he's a trendsetter.". intricately detailed in Lee Jenkins' 2011 profile in Sports Illustrated, obviously disinterested Bynum jacking up wild shots at practice. 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. [95] After still not playing through the end of February, it was reported that Bynum's knees had begun to degenerate. Bynum said he was considering retirement even before this season started, but it would take one hell of a person to turn down $6 million for a few months of work. 1 for No. [25][26] Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelpline.ma.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Howard immediately and thoroughly clashed with Kobe, more than Bynum ever had, and left of his own volition, giving. The blocked shots broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's franchise record of nine, and tied the NBA playoff record set by Mark Eaton and Hakeem Olajuwon. "They're just struggling," Bynum said of the Lakers' 10-14 start to the season. As was intricately detailed in Lee Jenkins' 2011 profile in Sports Illustrated, Bynum doesn't just have interests outside of basketball, he has obsessions. Eberhardt: What do NBA assistant coaches do during games? [19] His first career double-double on November 7 included a season-high 20 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Bryant pushed ONeal, who scored 25 points, to the point that ONeal screamed at Bryant that night for not passing to him: Drop it off!, Thats why Bryant smiled a little when I told him about Bynums rebellious postgame comment about getting Browns message not to take 3-pointers and in the next breath saying boldly: But Im going to take some more., Its somewhat amusing to me, because in some ways the edginess and the chippiness of him make it easy for me to relate to him because I had some of that when I was young, Bryant, 33, said about Bynum, 24. So, its easy for me to see where hes coming from. I made one (with 1.2 seconds left in the last game, a loss to Memphis), and I wanted to make another one. max-width: 100%; "The thing that I like about him is that he has an engine inside of him and he wants to do well, he wants to dominate. Odds and lines subject to change. It was his body. They are above it. "[85] The Lakers eventually won the series 43 with Bynum contributing a career playoff-high 18 rebounds in Game 7. [38] Win at all costs. He was benched for it. The shared resolve to play through pain continues. The New Jersey native averaged 1.2 blocks in just 18.1 minutes per game during the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns. It infamously sabotaged his relationship with Shaquille O'Neal, because Bryant never felt like Shaq matched his dedication to the sport and therefore didn't deserve the ball as much as he did. PHILADELPHIA -- Andrew Bynum played seven seasons with Kobe Bryant as his teammate before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers this summer. Before Bynum was thrown out of his final practice and suspended, he was shooting the ball every time he touched it in a practice scrimmage, sources said from whatever remote part of the court he had caught the ball. Heres Adrian Wojnarowski in 2014, back then with Yahoo Sports. But Bryant was certainly wishing it had gone down. Miraculously, Orlando won that massive trade despite being the only team that didn't get an All-Star back. LOS ANGELES -- There is a certain standard of excellence that Kobe Bryant chooses to surround himself with. Bynum missed the entire 201213 season because of knee problems. [104], On January 7, 2014, the Cavaliers traded Bynum, a future first round draft pick, two future second round picks, and the option to swap first round picks in 2015 to the Chicago Bulls for Luol Deng. 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. Eligibility restrictions apply. ", If you know anything about Bynum, the math checks out. OAKLAND I asked Kobe Bryant what he thought about Andrew Bynum launching that 3-pointer that got Bynum benched by Lakers coach Mike Brown on Tuesday night. In September 2008, Bynum said that he was 100% healthy and was ready to participate in training camp, which was scheduled to begin at the end of the month, after working with his trainer. "You want to play against your old team always," Bynum said. Kobe Bryant never let injuries get in the way of his pursuit of championships or individual excellence. "Actually I'm feeling better and the pain is down in both knees, which is good," Bynum said. Andrew Bynum Named Western Conference Player of the Week Andrew Bynum (right) played seven seasons with Kobe Bryant (left) on the Los Angeles Lakers. 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. "Are you kidding me? In Bynum, Kobe had a great player who was conditioned to defer to the Black Mamba. [91][92] He did not practice or play with the team prior to the season, and suffered another setback after injuring his left knee while bowling. [36], Bynum set a new career high in scoring with 42 points to go along with 15 rebounds (8 offensive) and 3 blocked shots on January 21, 2009 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Bynum was probably the Lakers' MVP of the second half of the regular season and the playoffs, but as always with Bynum, the threat of injury is just around the corner. But nothing has ever gotten very serious. [88] The Magic decided against receiving Bynum due to concerns over his knees and his upcoming free agent status. Just three years ago, everything came crashing down for the Lakers. But Bryant never even indulged the thought of the young center being ruled out. The first part of that, and all the work that went into it, is what gets lost when people talk about Bynum's passion for the game. darkshark21. "We all know the amount of talent that he has and he's really worked on it," Bryant said after Bynum finished with 21 points, 22 rebounds and three blocked shots against Houston in registering the first 20-20 game of his career. I think they struggle a little bit off the bench, so that kind of hurts, too.". Eligibility restrictions apply. He had originally intended to go to UConn but instead opted for the NBA. He added "my time is done there" and that the location of where he plays isn't as important to him as him being healthy enough to allow him to play. In March, there were reports that he could return before the end of the 200708 season or the first round of the playoffs;[30][31] however, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said that he did not foresee Bynum making serious contributions any time soon in April. It has publicly tested his relationship with Pau Gasol, as Bryant said of Gasol last season, "Very white swan. He rebuilt and enhanced everything from cars to computers to phones. A former Lakers player revealed that Jim Buss wanted to trade Kobe Bryant and make Andrew Bynum the leader of the team. Andrew Bynum Claiming Kobe Bryant Stunted His Development Is Flat out "I think in the first quarter I had 10, so I guess I was kind of slacking the rest of the game," Bynum said. Howard immediately and thoroughly clashed with Kobe, more than Bynum ever had, and left of his own volition, giving up money to avoid playing with Bryant again. 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 . What's really difficult is feigning enjoyment out of something that causes your entire body to ache. 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. Bryant played through an assortment of physical maladies. Bryant didnt draw any comparison between those shots and Bynum needing to try 3-pointers, but it was implied from something else Bryant said about Bynums game. I guess he took offense to it, so he put me on the bench.. The Basketball Gods, though, or whatever governs basketball (il)logic, had other ideas. 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. It's kind of ridiculous. He has ambition to be great. [96][97], On March 1, with swelling in his right knee, he conceded he might not play by the end of the season, although he said his left knee was fine. [47] Postponing surgery until after the playoffs, Bynum appeared in all 23 of the Lakers' playoff games, averaging 8.6 points and 6.9 rebounds. 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. If a potential Prize winner forfeits or does not claim a prize, the prize will be re-awarded. He gave his best. [24] Bryant was also shown on an infamous amateur video saying that center Bynum should have been traded for Kidd. 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. 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. For sure, Bynum cannot let expansion of his game interfere with his more important defensive responsibilities in the playoffs, the same way Bryant knew to rein it in and dump it in more to Shaq in the playoffs. [53] At the All-Star break, Jackson discussed with Bynum that his primary role should be to defend and reboundnot score. [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. [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. He hasn't missed a game all season after undergoing back surgery in the offseason. [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. 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. He was traded to the Chicago Bulls in January 2014 and immediately waived to clear salary-cap space. [113] On May 7, before Game 2 of the second round of the 2014 NBA playoffs against Washington, the Pacers announced that Bynum would miss the remainder of the season and would no longer be involved in team activities. He was expected to back up All-Star center Roy Hibbert along with Ian Mahinmi. Theyre not used to dealing with players of Drews ambition, Im sure, at this stage of his career. 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. Having long understood the determination it took to win a championship, Kobe showed little sympathy for Bynums plight.
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