Bynum's knees pain-free, could return around all-star break
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Bynum's knees pain-free, could return around all-star break
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
Because the news about Andrew Bynum has been discouraging for so long, reporters, when given the chance to question the 76ers' big man, tend to expect him to give answers that are more negative than positive about his knees.
I’m guilty of that myself.
Recently, though, when he has spoken unfiltered, Bynum has been indicating that he clearly feels he’s making significant progress in his efforts to get on the court.
After working up a sweat with associate coach Michael Curry and head athletic trainer Kevin Johnson – Bynum was shooting jumpers along the baseline, out on the perimeter and attempting some shots with minimal jumping - he said that he now thinks it possible that he’ll join the team by the all-star break.
“I have no idea exactly, I just want to get back,” Bynum said Monday. “I think, I’m hoping around the all-star break. That’s what I’m hoping. I have no idea exactly when I’ll be back.”
The all-star break begins Feb. 14 and ends Feb 20. The team has 31 regular season games to play after the break.
Asked if the pain in his knees was ‘tolerable,’ Bynum gave another encouraging answer.
“It’s minimal,” Bynum said. “It’s not hurting.”
So we know that as of this date, with him yet to run on the court, Bynum’s once painful knees are totally pain-free.
Bynum, who has been jogging on the team’s treadmills and anti-gravity machine, said Monday represented the first time he had actually run.
“I went as fast as 8-miles-per-hour,” he said.
He’s not doing any straight-line running just yet, but Bynum hinted that this was coming soon. Running up and down the court will be the biggest test for Bynum, who appears ready to soon graduate from the treadmill and the other machinery he’s been using. When he does start running – who knows, this could come before the end of the month – the expectations for his return to the court will only be heightened.
He says his weight is in the 300-pound range. However, his weight is not in his midsection. Bynum has no gut and his swelling arms and chest indicate that he is taking the weight lifting seriously.
- fair point, @bearsfriend, but if (and it's a big if) Bynum gets healthy, wouldn't you rather have him than either the aforementioned former Sixers or James Harden?
Iggy and Harkless for Harden is intriguing, and I'd have to think the OKC would have thought long and hard about that. But even with Harden and, let's say, Mayo, they still wouldn't have a post presence. I'd rather take the gamble with Bynum. - I liked the trade for Bynum from day one, but the Ruland talk was indirectly messing with my hopefulness. The fact that they traded for Bynum after getting the outside shooting along with Kwame makes me feel that there was not honesty in reporting or from FO to reporters. Either way, if I had a big man on my team like Bynum, I would use him like his contract and floor presence dictates. Hooray for us and the hell with the Knicks, Heat, and most definitely the Celtics— spear1
- HAH! Big deal....he'll (try to) be on the court by the All Star Break. Before or after the break? It may not make a difference if the Sixers continue to fall behind the pack. I still say....No All Stars, no (100% healthy) Bynam, no chance. See ya next year Sixers!— Panthro2011
- Next year is good enough for me, but I am not giving up on this year. How much more fun is it going to be with Bynum on the court? Let me answer for me and some others that have been fans for 45 years. Alot. No more getting sand kicked in our faces. Embrace this year my sixer fans. We are in for a treat.— spear1
- I don't understand all of the talk about "Bynum doesn't want to play." Maybe playing with Kobe sucked all his motivation out of him. He wouldn't be the first guy, and from all accounts his successor is having the same issues.
From every interview he's given he seems to be a thoughtful and articulate guy who is clearly frustrated by his injuries. I haven't seen him, but if Mitchell and/or Narducci say he looks solid from his weightlifting regimen, that's even more encouraging, especially if he's used the sessions to also strengthen the muscles supporting his knees (a la Utley). He's still young (he just turned 25) and hopefully is continuing to mature. He's got many, many, many reasons to want to get back on the court and put together a monster 31 game stretch and hopefully a two or three round playoff run. I'm hoping he has no setbacks, and am anxious to see him play. I'll be one of the "suckers" in the stands when he returns. - Bynum is coming back....zzzzzzz yawn zzzzzzz yawn...huh what u say? I was sleep.— male
- GeezOhwiz: That talk about him not wanting to play is from frustrated Philly fans who are only satisfied when they are conducing their own self-deprecation. So much misery has them feeling that unless they remain miserable something is wrong. I saw him getting out of his Porsche yesterday and he looks trim, lean in the face. He appears to be doing what he needs to do to get on the court. Good luck to him; to hell with the clueless naysayers who gather here and hate on the messenger because he isn't their departed heroine.— Rawkus
- arnt there more kneez— spear1
- Allow this man to get his knee(S) right, he's A Franchise STAR, don't rush it. Hopefully he will be healthy, no one knows, but if he is, watch out, Bynum is Dominant!— Anguilla Al
- i am so through with him it's not even funny. he does not want to play here. so lets give him the opportunity to get some minutes so other clubs can see him play and then sign him to a max deal.... NOT. i say sit him for the rest of the year and then let him go after the season is over.— ceage2
- The thing that concerns me about his knees is that it goes beyond hoping there aren't collisions or bad breaks. With a chronic condition like that he can have a game where he throws down 30 and grabs 15 boards, goes to bed feeling fine and wakes up not being able to play for 2 months.— hillbillybirdsfan
- Oh thank God, now the Sixers can go from being a below average team to an average team. I'm seeing ping pong balls again!— paris4053
- Surprise surprise, the doom n gloom cloud is starting to fade away. Good thing he was hiding sme super secret injury and he was never going to step on a court again. Bandwagon will start to slowly fill up with this homestand. We are about to go on a nice little run, we will be back to 500 and then the city will start buzzing with the return on the beast, and everyone will run out and buy their Jeff Ruland jersey...WE will soon get to finally start seeing the visions. GOOD TIMES AHEAD!!— johnGiam
- Like it or not, gambling on Bynum was a necessary evil, being the 8th seed every year is not going to cut it. Not in this city. They had to blow up last years team to start new and clear cap space, and that's what they did. Hoping they could be competitive enough to draw some interest from the fans. With that said , I'd still like to see them make a move before the deadline.— Peanut997
- Surprise surprise,by unison his way back, the sixers are about to go on a run, we will be 500, and then the big an will be back and the doom and gloom Philly skies will start to clear up.the city will be flooded with Bynum jerseys by mid march. Sad fans couldn't support their team the entire time— johnGiam
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
