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.
JGiam's 2/4 date seems to have been pushed back.
Has anyone seen Bynum - is all of his weight gain in muscle or has he gotten fat?— The2ndMostInterestingManInTheWorld- The extra weight, no matter how it's dispersed, won't help his knees any.— beegal99
- Been saying it for awhile now, just wait till you see this guy on the court. He's widely regarded as the 2nd best center in the league for a reason. Not to mention no one in the East can match up with him. Imo, the grind of last season when teams were playing almost every freakin day obviously took something out of him for the start of this year. The fact he was able to play in every game he was eligible says to me he'll eventually be ok. When did a guy like Greg Odom ever play in that many games, let alone that condensed a schedule? The comparisons that people want to me on this site are baseless. Maybe i'm just an optimist.— Stephen45
- he has the talent, but he doesn't have the desire to be great. kobe said it, kareem said it. he will make this team better just by stepping out on the court, but this guy doesn't compete hard night in & night out.
- 19 points a game (with Kobe in the lineup), 12 rebounds a game, 2 blocked shots per game last year is not great?
I know we've had Wilt and Moses. But, what's a man have to do?!— 21stCentury - Not comparing but i gotta ask. How would Michael Jordan have handled playing second fiddle to Kobe and Pau? Anyone honestly think he woulda kept his mouth shut when Kobe was jackin up 30 shots a game. Theirs no doubt Bynum can be immature at times, but just maybe he felt like he was being short changed in LA, just maybe he thought he was capable of giving more yet was never given the chance to be more of a centerpiece. Dwight Howard has constantly said he would've liked to carve his own path(brooklyn), how do you think he would feel if say Shaq followed him around everywhere and was tied at the hip to him. These players have egos, they wanna be their own players. It's not like he refused Kareem's help coming outta highschool. They worked together for a couple years. Kareem is just bitter someone wouldn't bend over backwards for him. I don't understand why people wanna judge the guy before he ever steps on the court. — Stephen45
- what does michael jordan have to do with andrew bynum? if you're "not comparing", then don't use them in an analogy because it's ludicrous. andrew bynum has had ONE good year in the NBA. ONE. kobe is one of the 10 best players ever. you may not like him, but that's a fact. here's another fact - he scored 19 pts/game BECAUSE of kobe bryant and pau gasol and the defenses that were geared entirely to stop them, not bynum. he plyed second fiddle to them because they are 2 of the best players in the league. he benfited from playing with them, they did not hinder him one bit. and as far as kareem, the guy couldn't have less of an ego. again, one of the best senters ever to play was largely ignored by bynum. i, like everyone else, is judging him on all the times has stepped on the court before. you can keep hoping you have the 2nd coming of moses, but he's closer to jeff ruland. enjoy.
- I swear fans of this city don't deserve a championship. Go ahead and keep bashing every player we have, even the ones who have yet to step on the court. — Stephen45
- Ah, this week's Bynum story. Dudes, that's more than another MONTH away! Wake me up when it's 3 days away or less.— PhillySubsMac
- Bynum might return? So might Godot...— CrotchetyOldMan
- Wish I could predict stocks and dealer's cards as easily as the 31 games after the All-Star break, as I'm with the school of thought that felt this was the plan all around by Ab and his handlers..Sixers gotta tread water harder, so as not to fall out of contention so early.— bearsfriend
- You mean the baseball All Star game?— rugbyjt
- it seems kinda obvious this was his plan from day one....and either ownership knew from day one....or they were naively duped by Lakeland. If the latter then...well that's ...embarrassing. If the former then that's shady duping the fans to buy tickets for the early season. At any rate i want to stay as positive as possible because i want to like my sixers team. Through rose, white, and blue colored glasses i see the sixers squeezing into the playoffs and playing very competitively when they get there. The showing entices Bynum to like this team and basketball again.....and THAT entices another FA to sign next year. With Holiday and Thad playing well we could have a legitimate team next year that can compete with the best. I know it's all unlikely.....but come on....it's technically possible right? I'm glad the F.O. took a chance on Bynum...even knowing he would call-in sick for most of the season. I'd rather them take a stab at greatness at the risk of catastrophe...then keep Vucevic, Iggy, Louwill, Harkless etc. and be assured of only pretty good— murdock101
- You had me the entire way...until that last sentence. There's just no way to know what the Sixers would have been with Iggy,Lou Will,the sophmore version of Vucevic, an athletic wing for the furture in Harkless, and yes, Iggy...Definitely would have been a DEEPER team...Iggy could have always been a chip going through this season, as well as EB's amnesty cold have garnered a Mayo,Ryan Anderson...Question:could Iggy and Harkless have been a start to acquire a James Harden?... — bearsfriend
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.
