Has Bynum outgrown Kareem?

[iamworthy]

Abdul-Jabbar expressed disappointment in Bynum and the situation, saying that ``I think there are things that have to do with basketball that he could learn but he's getting on in years.''

Bynum said he understood his mentor's feelings, but that it's not personal and just a natural evolution for him in his career.

``I understand where he's coming from,'' Bynum said. ``It's definitely tough (for him). As of right now, I have my direction and he's still helping me. As long as he doesn't stop helping me everything is going to be fine.''

http://www.insidesocal.com/lakers/

This sucks for the Captain.

[dockingsched]

just read it, didn't like this from KAJ: "While Abdul-Jabbar expressed disappointment that Bynum was away from basketball for so long, Bynum said it was needed break both personally and professionally."

bynum wasn't being a bum, like the article said, he was being a 21 yr old with his friends backpacking through europe. KAJ should just be supportive.

anywhoo, don't really think much of it. only so much practice you can put in with one guy with nothing new in the summer. eventually you need more actual game situations to go back and look at so that you have something to work on.

[Mamba Venom]

The summers over... its time to work hard now!!!

[Hyral]

I agree with dcash4 that we shouldn't think too much of it.

Not everyone has the work ethic of a young Kobe or Jordan.

Personally, I hold nothing against Bynum for wanting to spend a nice vacation away from basketball with his friends, traveling across Europe/Asia. That sounds like a blast, and Bynum is still a young kid. Hell, he'd probably only be a Junior in college right now. I don't blame him for wanting to have a good time and not wasting his youth to just basketball.

Besides, Bynum spent a good month and a half of working out with his personal trainer after he came back. Reports have said he has trimmed some weight, and he's been working on building his legs to prevent another leg/knee injury and to just overall perform better on the court. He looked great at media day and he's looked good in training camp so far as well. He's putting the work in. Honestly he needs to get the mental aspects of the game down more than anything, and that comes best with just playing the game and going through the season.

[Optms]

Hopefully just hopefully he can stay healthy this entire season and avoid major and freak injuries out there on the floor. I would love to see more plays run through him during the course of the season. I just hope his self confidence hasn't taken a dip. I hope he comes out hungry.

[DEEP3CL]

All I see in here are facade excuses, I'm mean how long are guys going to keep running that redundant crap ? He ain't staying a "kid" forever, at some point it's going to be time to man up nightly.So far he ain't done it yet.

If he feels his way is the right way well he better be damn right for his sake. Cause I wouldn't spend one night sleepless if his ass was ever shipped out.

I get the gist of this whole situation, but it's common sense when your coach says this:

that the team had encouraged Bynum to participate in the camp so he could get more experience on the court.

Nuff said.

`He's got to figure it out, Maybe he feels that there are things to be gained by doing it his way. So he's going to try it his way.

Kareem isn't dumb, he knows Bynum is saying he doesn't need him. Man up Drew tell him you don't need him.

I had to take the time off for my knee

GTFO, but you go trekking around for 41 days................on the same damn knee ?

The rest of y'all can keep using lame excuses for him........I won't. He gotta prove it to me cause I'll be on his behind all year when he ain't holding his weight.

[crazyeights]

What are you talking about crabbyapples? Kobe didn't touch a basketball for a few months where's the warcry against that?

It's not like he didn't put in the time training in Atlanta. From the videos I've seen of Bynum he looks refreshed and ready to play. You know what makes people that way? Vacation. Nothing wrong with it.

Work hard/play hard.

[Dr Aki]

hes 21!

what 21yo doesnt want to travel the world??

the other thing is kareem obviously feels he could offer more to bynum with his post skills and footwork, whereas bynum believed his leg strength needed work, which is understandable from both sides...

i honestly dont see what the problem is

training camp is training camp, we should be happy he even bothered to turn up IN SHAPE... what did we expect? bynum to be ready to contribute at competitive level?

[Kilroy]

Bynum isn't just a '21 year old'...

He's a star in the NBA on a Championship team... And he played like absolute crap when he came back...

To me he sounds like an arrogant little prick who has nothing to back it up...

I think that's a real problem with him. Every season there's something like this...

Something like The Lakers want Bynum to do something, and he doesn't think he needs to...

It's all excuses and Bynum is a bench riding scrub untill he proves something...

I'm off the bandwagon. I'm tired of all the talk. I don't care if he worked out with God if God doesn't play Basketball like KAJ, it's all just 24hr Fitness...

[El Hardee]

I have never liked Bynum for his lack of heart, this shows it. If he really wanted to be the best, he would be renting a room from KAJ. I train with alot of pro athletes and even when its off season or they dont have any upcoming fights they are still killing it in the gym. Bynum will never live up to the hype or paycheck, ship Arnold Drummond out!

[TruSkool]

from day one, i didnt think bynum and KAJ were a good student-teacher fit.
kareem's style of play(more finesse) is a different from bynum(more power)...a better mentor for bynum would be someone such as patrick ewing or alonzo mourning

[Magicontinues]

from day one, i didnt think bynum and KAJ were a good student-teacher fit.
kareem's style of play(more finesse) is a different from bynum(more power)...a better mentor for bynum would be someone such as patrick ewing or alonzo mourning

I think he needed Cap for portions of his game, footwork, touch game, but your right, now he needs to step up his power moves, and agression in getting rebounds, blocks, dunking on people's heads, etc.

[Magicontinues]

I have never liked Bynum for his lack of heart, this shows it. If he really wanted to be the best, he would be renting a room from KAJ. I train with alot of pro athletes and even when its off season or they dont have any upcoming fights they are still killing it in the gym. Bynum will never live up to the hype or paycheck, ship Arnold Drummond out!

Relax skippy, Bynum's doctor recommended he rest his surgically repaired knees this summer. He came back lighter, and in better conditioning via more sprinting and cardio. He did work out, but for you to say he lacks heart because he followed doctors orders is just ridiculous.

[Anklebreaker702]

All I see in here are facade excuses, I'm mean how long are guys going to keep running that redundant crap ? He ain't staying a "kid" forever, at some point it's going to be time to man up nightly.So far he ain't done it yet.

If he feels his way is the right way well he better be damn right for his sake. Cause I wouldn't spend one night sleepless if his ass was ever shipped out.

I get the gist of this whole situation, but it's common sense when your coach says this:

that the team had encouraged Bynum to participate in the camp so he could get more experience on the court.

Nuff said.

`He's got to figure it out, Maybe he feels that there are things to be gained by doing it his way. So he's going to try it his way.

Kareem isn't dumb, he knows Bynum is saying he doesn't need him. Man up Drew tell him you don't need him.

I had to take the time off for my knee

GTFO, but you go trekking around for 41 days................on the same damn knee ?

The rest of y'all can keep using lame excuses for him........I won't. He gotta prove it to me cause I'll be on his behind all year when he ain't holding his weight.

Nothing different from last year. Bynum has no room with you. If he doesn't tie his shoe right, there you go.

[Magicontinues]

]

All I I had to take the time off for my knee

GTFO, but you go trekking around for 41 days................on the same damn knee ?

This is the kind of dumb azzz sheeet that is said around this place that drives a logical person crazy.
So you don't see a difference in walking, and running, jumping, cutting?

[Magicontinues]

Every season there's something like this...

Something like The Lakers want Bynum to do something, and he doesn't think he needs to...

Like what? From all I've heard when he's not injured, he works very very hard, let's stop the hateraid on our Laker brotha here fella's, this place is getting ridiculous with the hate of our OWN PLAYERs.

[LLcoleJ]

Meh... If Bynum thinks he is ready to proceed on his own, become his own man/player and take the next step forward then so be it. I like Bynum but putting his injuries aside, he does need to progress forward. Looked timid that was the result of his knee surgery but also mental too. Almost looks like he is thinking too much.
Step up your game Drew... all eyes on you.

[LLcoleJ]

Every season there's something like this...

Something like The Lakers want Bynum to do something, and he doesn't think he needs to...

Like what? From all I've heard when he's not injured, he works very very hard, let's stop the hateraid on our Laker brotha here fella's, this place is getting ridiculous with the hate of our OWN PLAYERs.

Not everyone is going to agree with each other, that's just the way it is. Don't take things do personal and you won't go insane.

[Kilroy]

from day one, i didnt think bynum and KAJ were a good student-teacher fit.
kareem's style of play(more finesse) is a different from bynum(more power)...a better mentor for bynum would be someone such as patrick ewing or alonzo mourning

I think he needed Cap for portions of his game, footwork, touch game, but your right, now he needs to step up his power moves, and agression in getting rebounds, blocks, dunking on people's heads, etc.

He's had multiple knee surgeries and is talking about wearing 2 braces on his knee... What makes you think he still has a power game?

He's also has worked on losing weight for the last couple years...

Which all tells me he knows his candied glass knees can no longer take the 'power game'...

He needs to be a finesse player to stay on the floor...

But that's not the point... The point is, you have probably the best player to ever play your position offering to help you, and you think you don't need it... Because you've done what in the league?...

Bynum just seems to me to have his head up his ass...

I mean does anybody here think Bynum has nothing else he can learn from KAJ? If so, based on what?

[LLcoleJ]

from day one, i didnt think bynum and KAJ were a good student-teacher fit.
kareem's style of play(more finesse) is a different from bynum(more power)...a better mentor for bynum would be someone such as patrick ewing or alonzo mourning

I think he needed Cap for portions of his game, footwork, touch game, but your right, now he needs to step up his power moves, and agression in getting rebounds, blocks, dunking on people's heads, etc.

He's had multiple knee surgeries and is talking about wearing 2 braces on his knee... What makes you think he still has a power game?

He's also has worked on losing weight for the last couple years...

Which all tells me he knows his candied glass knees can no longer take the 'power game'...

He needs to be a finesse player to stay on the floor...

But that's not the point... The point is, you have probably the best player to ever play your position offering to help you, and you think you don't need it... Because you've done what in the league?...

Bynum just seems to me to have his head up his ass...

I mean does anybody here think Bynum has nothing else he can learn from KAJ? If so, based on what?

Of course Bynum has much to learn from KAJ. But like KAJ and many other players in this league there are times when he needs to do things on his own.
It's a sticky argument because we are talking about learning from KAJ, but at the same time Bynum has been " in development" since we drafted him.
If freeing up Bynum is going to help him grow I am all for it. Time to put up or shut up.