The Los Angeles Lakers have one of the best records in the NBA, thanks in part to the emergence of prospect center Andrew Bynum.
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers wasn't shy about vocalizing his desire to be traded to a contender last season and through the summer. When the Lakers snuffed a deal that would have brought All Star point guard Jason Kidd to the Lakers in exchange for prospect center Andrew Bynum, Bryant was outraged. Yet, he has quieted down recently, as the Lakers - with a 23-11 record - are just a game and a half behind the Western Conference leading Phoenix Suns.
One of the main reasons for the Laker's early success has been the emergence of Bynum. While some young players might regress after taking such harsh criticism from an established NBA star, Bynum took it to heart and hired Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to help him with private workout sessions during the off season. As a result, Bynum is having a career year, averaging 12.9 ppg, 10.0 rbpg and 2.1 bspg, while shooting 63% from the field. That's about 5 ppg, 4 rbpg, 0.5 bspg and 7% better from the field than his average last season. What's even more impressive is that, though he averages seven more minutes a night this season, he's actually averaging 0.1 fewer fouls per game, which is an attestment to his better physical condition and maturity.
The Lakers outscore opponents by an average of 6.7 ppg, as opposed to last season when they were outscored an average of 0.1 per game.
Bynum's showing the types of skills the Lakers hoped he could develop when they selected him with the 10th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. At the time, the 7-0 275-pounder was only 17 years old, making him the youngest player drafted. Los Angeles knew they would have to patient with their young center, but he's developed rather quickly all things considered.
"Certainly at 17 years old going on 18 years old, he has a long way to go," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said in June 2005. "We don't know what he's going to be like in two or three years, but if he works and he's competitive, he has a chance to be a very, very good center and there just aren't that many centers." [Source: Los Angeles Times]
With Kobe Bryant leading the Lakers, Lamar Odom serving as his deputy on the court, Bynum's accomplishments so far have helped give Laker fans something to cheer about this season.
