Andrew Bynum

Andrew Bynum

No. 17    Los Angeles Lakers
Center
Personal information
Date of birth	October 27, 1987 (1987-10-27) (age 23)
Place of birth	Plainsboro, New Jersey
Nationality	American
High school	St. Joseph (New Jersey) and West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North
Listed height	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight	285 lb (129 kg)
Career information
NBA Draft	2005 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Pro career	2005–present
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA Champion (2009, 2010)
Andrew Bynum at NBA.com

Andrew Lee Bynum (born October 27, 1987 in Plainsboro, New Jersey) is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted 10th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005.^[1][2] Bynum became the youngest player ever to play an NBA game later that year, breaking Jermaine O'Neal's record. Amidst the 2007–08 season, he suffered an injury on his left kneecap and eventually missed the rest of the season and all of the playoffs. He made a successful return at the beginning of the 2008–09 season. In January 2009, however, he suffered another injury, this time to his right knee. He was able to come back before the playoffs started and was part of the Lakers squad that won the 2009 NBA Finals. In the 2010 post-season, Bynum once again displayed tremendous resiliency by playing every single playoff game despite a torn meniscus and strained Achilles tendon. His valiant efforts, most notably in the paint on defense, were crucial to helping the Lakers win their repeat title against the tenacious Boston Celtics that June.

Early years

Andrew Bynum was born in Plainsboro, New Jersey to Lee and Janet Bynum. He grew up in East Orange, Irvington, and Plainsboro, New Jersey, where Bynum completed elementary school and began playing basketball. He has two older brothers named Ernest and Corey.^[3] Despite having the same surname, he is not related to point guard Will Bynum.

High school

Bynum attended St. Joseph High School, in Metuchen, New Jersey during his junior and senior year. For his sophomore and freshmen year, he attended West Windsor Plainsboro High School North located in Plainsboro, NJ. He was in the 2005 McDonald's All-American game where he tallied 9 points and 5 rebounds.^[4] In his junior year of high school Bynum averaged 16.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 6.0 blocks. As a senior, he averaged 22.4 points, 16.8 rebounds and 5.3 blocks per game.^[5] 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.^[6] He originally planned to attend the University of Connecticut; however, the 17-year-old made the decision to go directly into the NBA and made himself eligible for the 2005 NBA Draft, where he was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers.

NBA career

Rookie season

Bynum playing in a game against the San Antonio Spurs.

In the 2005 NBA Draft, Andrew Bynum was selected 10th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. At age &000000000000001700000017 years, &0000000000000244000000244 days, Bynum was 12 days younger than former Indiana Pacers player and current Boston Celtics center, Jermaine O'Neal, the previous youngest player drafted by an NBA team.^[7] After selecting him in the draft, the Lakers hired Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to work with Bynum.^[8] On November 2, 2005, during the Lakers' season opener against the Denver Nuggets, Bynum played six minutes and became the youngest player ever to play in an NBA game at age &000000000000001800000018 years, &00000000000000060000006 days.^[2][9] During the game, he missed his two field goal attempts but had two rebounds and two blocks.^[10] In his second season, Bynum was still the youngest player in the league,^[11] due to his draft year being the last that a player could be drafted straight out of high school.

In a game against the Miami Heat on January 15, 2006, Bynum matched up against former Laker center Shaquille O'Neal for the first time. At one point, O'Neal dunked over Bynum on a putback attempt. On the next play, Bynum spun past O'Neal and dunked the ball. He then ran down the court and shoved O'Neal with his elbow, who retaliated by elbowing Bynum's upper chest. Teammate Kobe Bryant quickly stepped in between the two. Both Bynum and O'Neal received technical fouls for the incident.^[12]

Bynum showed flashes of dominance but was far from consistent. He had career highs of 16 rebounds and seven blocks on January 26, 2006 against the Charlotte Bobcats. His first career double-double on November 7 included a career-high 20 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he had 19 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks on January 5 against Denver Nuggets.

2006–07 season

With Lakers centers Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown injured at the start of the 2006–07,^[8] Bynum served as their starting center. Bynum scored 18 points and had 9 rebounds in 24 minutes against the Phoenix Suns on October 31, 2006, making seven of his eleven attempts from the field. He appeared in 82 games and started 53 and finished the season with averages of 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds, in just over 21 minutes per game. He also averaged 1.6 blocks per game.^[13] Coach Pete Newell was impressed with Bynum's development, and stated that teammate Kobe Bryant should back off on his criticism towards Bynum.^[14] During the off-season prior to the 2007–08 season, many teams made offers for Bynum, including the New Jersey Nets^[15] and the Indiana Pacers.^[16] However, the Lakers exercised a fourth-year contract option on him.^[17]

2007–08 season

Bynum defending Tim Duncan

Despite an offseason which included heavy criticism from teammate Kobe Bryant, Bynum emerged as a legitimate low-post threat for the Lakers. Bynum's solid play helped the Lakers to race out to a 26-11 record, which was at the time the best record in the Pacific Division. Bynum played 35 games and started in 25 games during the season. His best game of the season came on Christmas Day against the Phoenix Suns, when he made 11-of-13 shots for 28 points to complement 12 boards, 4 assists and 2 blocks. Bynum kept playing solidly and being a presence in the post with averages of 13.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks while leading the NBA with a .636 field goal percentage.

On January 13, 2008, he suffered an injury during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Bynum partially dislocated his left kneecap when he landed awkwardly on teammate Lamar Odom's left foot while attempting to grab a rebound.^[18] In March, there were reports that he could return before the end of the 2007–08 season or the first round of the playoffs;^[19][20] however, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said that he did not foresee Bynum making serious contributions any time soon in April.^[21] In May, rumors about his return were put to rest when Bynum underwent arthroscopic surgery on his kneecap.^[22] 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.^[23] On October 30, 2008, he agreed to sign a 4 year, $58 million contract with the Lakers.^[24]

2008–09 season

Andrew 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.^[25] On the next night, January 22, versus the Washington Wizards he scored 23 points to go along with 14 rebounds (4 offensive).^[26] During a game against the Charlotte Bobcats 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 Charlotte Bobcats.^[27] While playing against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 31, 2009, Kobe Bryant had an off balanced shot, fell and collided with Bynum's right knee, resulting in a right knee sprain. On February 2, 2009 it was revealed that Andrew Bynum had suffered a torn MCL in his right knee and would be out 8–12 weeks.^[28] This was the second straight year that Bynum has suffered a knee injury against the Memphis Grizzlies. Bynum had averaged 26 points and 14 rebounds in his previous five games, posting five straight double-doubles for the first time in his career.

On April 9, 2009, Bynum returned in a home game against the Denver Nuggets. He went 0-2 in the first half, but finished with 7-11 by the end of the game. With the 21 minutes that he played, Bynum scored 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.^[29] Bynum and the Lakers would go on to win the 2009 NBA Finals.

2009–10 season

In the 2010 NBA playoffs, Bynum injured his knee in Game 6 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.^[30] However, he kept on playing, and the Lakers won their second championship in a row.^[31]

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Notes

External links

• Andrew Bynum Info Page at NBA.com
• Andrew Bynum NBA & ABA Statistics at Basketball-Reference.com
• Andrew Bynum at ESPN.com
• Official Site
• Basketball-Reference.com: Andrew Bynum