Andrew Bynum needs to be more mature to ensure success for the Los Angeles Lakers – NBA Feature
Andrew Bynum has been an exceptional find for the Los Angeles Lakers. At the age of 24, he has already won two NBA championships with L.A in his 7 year career. This year has been a new coming for Bynum. He has played some exceptional
basketball for the L.A Lakers - his statistics prove just that.
Presently, he is averaging 18.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and nearly 58% field goal shooting this season, all career highs. Just last Wednesday, he scored a game high 36 points against the Los Angeles Clippers in a mammoth match. Bynum
also made his first All Star Game this season as starting centre for the Western Conference. He has fought through injuries to his knee and kept himself in great shape, evident from the fact that he did not miss a single game this season up until last week
when he had to miss action due to a sore ankle.
He is slowly becoming the go to guy for the Lakers, an integral part of their team. Many even rate him as the next best big after Dwight Howard.
However, at age 24, many people believe that Bynum is still immature and does not have the composure to be part of a champion club such as the Los Angeles Lakers. The argument is that to play for L.A, you have to be very disciplined,
mature and focused, or else, you have to be Kobe Bryant.
Unfortunately, Bynum cannot be Kobe, and hence he has to be mature which evidently, is not his strongest suit.
In Friday night’s tie up against Houston Rockets, Bynum was ejected from the game early in the 4th quarter. After getting his first technical foul, Bynum was seen being told by his coach to remain calm as the Lakers
needed him to play through the game.
However, just at the beginning of the final period, Bynum headed towards the Rockets bench and started talking trash after making a two point shot. The referee called for a second technical and Bynum was sent off with 11:17 left
in the game. The Lakers went on to lose that match.
Lakers coach Mike Brown was clearly irritated by Bynum’s actions and said after the game:
“Picking up a second technical and getting kicked out of the game, he leaves his teammates out there. Call it whatever you want to call it. But it's not right."
Some people speculate that Bynum does not like playing for Mike Brown, and this is the main reason why he has been acting out lately. He was in trouble two weeks back after taking an unnecessary 3 point shot and despite of the
fact that Brown benched him for doing so, he insisting that he will continue with his ways from the long range. Bynum was consequently suspended for one game.
He also missed a team meeting with General Manager Mitch Kupchak and later told reporters that he was not informed. Former Laker greats Magic Johnson and James Worthy have also not been happy with his behaviour; with Worthy going
as far as to say that such behaviour would not be tolerated back when he was in the L.A squad.
Another question that comes to mind is whether Bynum wants to play for the Lakers anymore. Bynum has all the temperament, composure and maturity to play in the big league. After all, he has been very successful and has battled
injuries. That does not happen without discipline, resolve and commitment. Maybe, he doesn’t want to play in a team where he is not the alpha dog. Maybe, he wants to be a free agent and move to another team, possibly New Jersey, close to where he grew up.
All these are speculations and we will never know for true until something like that actually happens. But what we do know is that the Lakers are playing good basketball in the run-up to the Playoffs and are a strong contender
for the title.
Andrew will do well to realise that he needs the Lakers as much as they need him. Being at one of the most storied franchises in the NBA, alongside a legend like Kobe Bryant and surrounded by enough talent to mount a challenge
for the NBA World Championship. All this is what many others dream of throughout their career, and Bynum is living that dream.
Bynum needs to focus on basketball at the moment and give his 100% to the team, because without him, the Lakers chances of winning the championship seem bleak.
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