Andrew Bynum Is Proving His Worth
You could legitimately argue that few players faced as much pressure coming into this season as the Lakers’ 20-year old big man, Andrew Bynum.
As soon as his megastar teammate Kobe Bryant threw him under the bus (because the Lakers refused to part with the youngster in a proposed trade for Jason Kidd) in a bizarre, expletive-laced tirade during the offseason, it became painfully clear that Bryant’s future with the Lakers was directly tied to Bynum’s performance on the hardwood.
To his credit, Bynum has played admirably and has helped the Lakers get off to a reasonably strong start (recent mini-slump notwithstanding.).
In his first 12 games of this season, even including a complete dud in the Lakers’ 107-94 loss to the Celtics on Friday, the 20-year-old Bynum is averaging a virtual double-double with 10.9 points and 9.9 rebounds, along with 1.4 blocks in just under 25 minutes per game.
“It usually takes big kids four or five years to mature, and that’s usually after college,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “Can this guy be good at 22? That was the question we had to sit and think about this summer. With his attitude, and the training he’s doing, he’s got a very good chance.”
In other words: If Kobe leaves, it won’t be Andrew’s fault. That’s gotta make him feel good.
Speaking of leaving, Phil Jackson is being curiously mum regarding his future in L.A.
28 Responses to “Andrew Bynum Is Proving His Worth”
Nov.26 at 4:32 pm
Myles Brown says:
Mutoni, does this make you as happy as I am?
Nov.26 at 4:40 pm
mutoni says:
i’m happy for bynum, but the lakers are the same team from last season (which makes me sad and has me reaching for the scotch flask regularly.)
Nov.26 at 4:45 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Kobe Bryant.
Nov.26 at 4:50 pm
Myles Brown says:
I’ve actually been satisfied with the team’s progress this year. At least until last night’s ridiculous collapse. Ugh. Anyway, Bynum’s development will continue to open up the floor for everyone else and the point doesn’t look as dismal as it did last year. Plus there’s the inevitable month long string of 50+ for you know who. I think thy’ll be aiight. Besides, if this team has you reaching for the scotch, then we’d better set up the preemptive intervention for Russ and his Bulls.
Nov.26 at 4:51 pm
Myles Brown says:
Hi Ryan.
Nov.26 at 4:56 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Missed you guys last week. I was in Tulsa. That’s a city in Oklahoma. It’s quiet there. Too quiet…
Nov.26 at 4:58 pm
Myles Brown says:
I gave thanks for you in Thanksgiving game notes. Seriously. I chalked your lack of response up to a newfound maturity. But I didn’t know you were in the land of no interwebs. So I take that back.
Nov.26 at 5:17 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Maturity? Never that.
Nov.26 at 5:22 pm
Myles Brown says:
Good. I was worried about you.
Nov.26 at 5:23 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Great Ghostface story, BTW. You don’t f*ck with a man’s Oreos, especially that man’s.
Nov.26 at 5:23 pm
Captain America says:
Andrew is still very inconsistent. He got schooled by Perk the other night, now that’s saying something.
Nov.26 at 5:25 pm
Reggie Evans says:
When is Lamar Odom going to prove his worth?
Nov.26 at 5:26 pm
Myles Brown says:
And to top it off, after eating all of his cookies, they didn’t even give him any of theirs. Nothing like an ungrateful groupie.
Nov.26 at 5:28 pm
Tom says:
If LA can somehow manage a 5th seed in the playoffs this year, they will get out of the 1st round. Otherwise this season will most likely end the same way as last season.
Nov.26 at 5:31 pm
Ryan Jones says:
The successful transition from ho to housewife is, statistically speaking, very difficult to achieve.
Nov.26 at 5:59 pm
Cheryl says:
I’m not even going to touch that one, Ryan…
Nov.26 at 6:01 pm
A Pimp Named Slickback says:
im hungry, quizno’s
Nov.26 at 6:34 pm
O.R Paperstacks says:
Its been a pleasure watching A.B develope this season. I really think he is he can go for 20 and 10 this year. He only takes about 8 shoots a game. His minutes and touches will need to go up though. I will be happy with 14 and 12 this year.
Nov.26 at 6:57 pm
Captain America says:
Yea, he an go for $20 and get 10 ‘burgers.
Nov.26 at 8:26 pm
Raptors Delight says:
im just waiting for bynum to bust out a sky hook thats when its really on.
Nov.26 at 8:41 pm
Sesa says:
Let’s see his stats after the all-star break. Still too early. I never worried about Bynum’s skill and potential, I’m worried about his passion for the game.
Nov.26 at 8:50 pm
D-Mac says:
GO BYNUM, this kid is gonna be a superstar……….he might even be able to match up against dwight howard
Key word = MIGHT
Nov.26 at 9:02 pm
Kevin says:
^ i would’ve replaced passion with commitment, but that otherwise represents my sentiment..
Nov.26 at 9:33 pm
Sesa says:
I dunno man, great players always have these passion…, drive… that makes them commit for his own better game.
After a game or two, that guy is kinda drifting.
I also opposed for the Mo Evans trade.
Nov.27 at 12:39 am
TC says:
People know that the kid’s got potential. But when u have the best scorer/ most clutch player at his prime and a great coach on ur team, maybe u should think about winning it all now rather than 4-5 years down the road. The lakers were stupid for not pulling the trigger to make the trade…..
Nov.27 at 4:14 am
Jukai says:
If there was a statistic on how many times someone has blocked your shot, Bynum would lead the league and be getting triple doubles every night. That being said, he’s playing fairly decently.
Nov.27 at 7:44 am
Heri says:
Yeah, this kid is gonna be fine, but All Star material? I don’t think so. Howard, Yao, Oden, J O’Neal, Chandler, Amare, …there are plenty of centers, relatively still young, who are way more talented than he is; I mean, look at him handling the ball. I don’t think he’s ever gonna be a force at the offensive end.
Nov.27 at 10:05 am
jay says:
drew as looked decent but anything is better than kwame brown..that being said kobe stays if they can get JO to go along with drew that will be formible front line!