The Los Angeles Lakers traded long time center Andrew Bynum this off season in a deal involving Dwight Howard, and the young center will be missed. The Lakers received Howard as part of the deal and there is very little doubt about what he can bring the Lakers. However, the bigger mystery is whether or not Bynum can lead his new team to great heights, the Philadelphia 76ers.
Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar mentored Bynum when he first came to Los Angeles, and Abdul-Jabbar has been talking about his student ever since he left teams. CBS Sports reported on an interview the legend did and focused on his comments about Bynum’s future with the Sixers.
Abdul-Jabbar said he was unsure if Bynum would thrive in a larger role in Philadelphia: “It’s up to him to determine how much of a leader he wants to be and how to make that happen on the court. Some people like that position and adjust to it naturally. Other people aren’t comfortable with it.”
Bynum developed into one of the best centers in the league last season, behind only Dwight Howard. Bynum developed a low post game that could not be matched by any other big man and was the Lakers’s best option on offense other than Kobe Bryant.
There is no doubt the Sixers will be receiving a very talented and capable center for next season. The bigger concern is whether or not Bynum can use his championship experience and help the team go deeper into the playoffs. Abdul-Jabbar is unsure if the young center will be able to do it, but at the end of day, Andrew Bynum is the one that controls his own faith.
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