The Los Angeles Lakers have plenty of things. They have more than enough star power (see Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol). They have plenty of ego (check Kobe again and the possibility of adding Gilbert Arenas in off season free agency). They have friendly-faced veterans (Derek Fisher is beloved pretty much everywhere). But they also have a man, who while injured, may be on his way to revolutionizing the National Basketball Association.
His name is Andrew Bynum.
Big men once ruled this league. From Robert Parrish to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, from Bill Russell to Hakeem Olajuwon; this was once the land of the giants. Lately, the only giant thing about the big men of the NBA has been disappointment.
Of anyone currently in the league, Bynum has the best chance to anyone to change that stigma.
I am sick of seeing mediocre basketball talents cashing in on big pay days because they are 7-foot tall. Let's face simple facts: Shaq is old, Yao is really just tall and Gasol really is not a big man. It pains me to know that soon the NBA will exploit UNC-Asheville's 7'8'' man beast Kenny George just because he can dunk without jumping, even though he can barely run without tripping.
Bynum was not really a Draft day steal or anything like that. Like most of the really best long term NBA players, he was just another draft pick to help a team down the line. But for all of the things the Lakers have done wrong, they made some right choices with him.
And he has made some good choices too. He is down to earth, intelligent with his status and eager to learn from players who have more experience. 90 percent of the players in the league don't have those qualities. With the right motivation and staying in that rare 10 percent, Bynum may be the best humanitarian in the NBA soon. As far as being one of the best players (or big men), Bynum has the most talent by far in the league. His skill set allows him to go old school playing hard around the rim but also move around like a new age post is expected to do.
I do think that Andrew Bynum may be able to flourish more somewhere else with less cocky and ball hogging players around him, but L.A. will do for now. As it is, he at least knows he can rebound extremely well with the 30 shots Kobe is putting up a night. His likely return in early-April before the playoffs will be the best thing for a Laker team hoping for some postseason wins.
Mark my words: Andrew Bynum will change this game with time.
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