- The Lakers, commanded at the time by Dr. Jerry Buss’ son Jimmy Buss, were so confident in 17-year-old Bynum’s skill that he chose to use the selection on the high school standout instead
- While Bynum showed glimpses of his potential that were impossible for Jimmy to dismiss, his health troubles were well-recognized even before he entered the NBA.
- The Zen Master was proven incorrect, but his fears in 2005 were at least plausible.
The Los Angeles Lakers had the option of drafting Andrew Bynum or an experienced college basketball talent in 2005. The Lakers, commanded at the time by Dr. Jerry Buss’ son Jimmy Buss, we’re so confident in 17-year-old Bynum’s skill that he chose to use the selection on the high school standout instead — a decision that irritated Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, and Jeanie Buss.
But Jimmy Buss believed that Bynum could follow Bryant’s lead and enter the NBA straight out of high school.
Choosing Bynum was also a method for Jimmy to build a reputation for himself in basketball and demonstrate that he is the rightful heir to Dr. Buss.
Jimmy informed the organization that Bynum was his choice and that his leadership
will be strengthened based on the success of the 17-year-old big man.
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Bynum’s health problems
While Bynum showed glimpses of his potential that were impossible for Jimmy to dismiss,
his health troubles were well-recognized even before he entered the NBA.
Aside from his health difficulties, the big man had to learn how to be a professional player,
adjust to the roughness of the NBA,
and deal with the exposure that Los Angeles provided.
Unfortunately, Bynum’s initial stumbling block was failing the physical exam during his first few days with the Lakers.
“We actually failed Andrew Bynum on the physical exam because he had a poor skeleton,” Lakers veteran trainer Gary Vitti stated in episode 8 of the documentary Legacy:
The True Story of the Los Angeles Lakers. “At 17 years old, he had already had several knee surgery while in high school.”
Also read:
Why didn’t Phil like Andrew?
Before they won two titles together, Jackson didn’t like Bynum because
he thought he was still too immature to contribute to a championship-contending team.
The Zen Master was proven incorrect, but his fears in 2005 were at least plausible.
Fortunately for the Lakers, they found a way to get the most out of Bynum while winning three straight NBA championships.
“Phil saw Andrew as a 17-year-old who doesn’t know how to be a professional,
who needs to be taught how to be a professional, that takes time and you have to earn that,” Jeanie Buss explained.
In 2012, Bynum was named an NBA All-Star and established himself as the team’s best big man (even if the Lakers employed Pau Gasol then).
His NBA career didn’t last long, but he proved himself worthy of being selected by the Lakers in the 2005 NBA Draft.
