Will Bynum

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William "Will" Bynum (born January 4, 1983 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player currently playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Tel Aviv, Israel. He plays the point guard position.

Bynum is considered a legend in the Chicago area, having outplayed many of the city's best players, including Antoine Walker, Tony Allen, Luther Head, Dee Brown and Sean Dockery. After starring at Crane High School in Chicago, he played for the University of Arizona in the NCAA, where he never started and left the team after a disagreement with head coach Lute Olson, subsequently joining Georgia Tech. He helped the Yellow Jackets reach the Final Four, where they lost to the Connecticut Huskies. Bynum previously hit the last second shot against Oklahoma State to propel the side to the championship game.

After signing a contract with the NBA's Boston Celtics in the off-season of 2005, he participated in NBA preseason play and was subsequently waived before the start of the 2005-06 regular season. He would appear for the Golden State Warriors during that season, playing 15 games from 19 March-19 April 2006. Prior to that, he played for the Roanoke Dazzle of the NBA Development League, winning the 2005-06 NBA Development League Rookie of the Year award.[1]

Bynum signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel before the 2006-07 season. He played for Maccabi for one year, which was the team's worst in the 21th century and one of the worst in its history. He was signed for a second season.

[edit] Tel Aviv nightclub incident

On January 5, 2008, Bynum was suspected of hitting a 22-year-old man with his car outside a Tel Aviv nightclub when fleeing the scene. The man was taken to hospital with moderate injuries. Bynum was later questioned and taken into custody by police.[2] The prosecution alleged that Bynum, who was out celebrating his 25th birthday, hit the man with his vehicle after a brawl in which his brother was stabbed, and other players were attacked as well. The prosecution also claimed he would try to flee the country if released. As a result, a judge has extended his remand. He was later released to house arrest.[3]

Bynum's case was later closed with no charges. The Tel Aviv district attorney announced that all charges were dropped, after several months of investigation. In an official statement made by the district attorney it was said: 'It was found that Bynum was in a tangible danger, and under these circumstances had, in order to save himself, escape in his car immediately, while driving his car. Therefore the advocacy decided the accident took place in circumstances that forced Bynum to protect himself, and as a result he's exempt of criminal responsibility.'[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Will Bynum Named D-League Rookie of the Year
  2. ^ Maccabi TA's Will Bynum suspected of hit-and-run near nightclub, The Jerusalem Post, January 5, 2008
  3. ^ Maccabi Tel Aviv guard's remand extended until Tuesday, The Jerusalem Post, January 6, 2008
  4. ^ Basketball / Case closed on Bynum 'hit-and-run' affair, Haaretz, April 8, 2008

[edit] External links

Preceded by
James Thomas		 NBA Development League
Rookie of the Year
2005–2006		 Succeeded by
Louis Amundson