Kareem Shares His "Bynum" Moment

Kareem Shares His "Bynum" Moment

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Standing outside the Staples Center interview room Monday night, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was telling the story of his Andrew Bynum moment some 36 years ago.

During his rookie season with the Milwaukee Bucks, Abdul-Jabbar was shoved out of bounds by Wilt Chamberlain along the baseline in a game against the Lakers. But Abdul-Jabbar answered back later in the game, dunking on Chamberlain.

"It wasn't the same after that," Abdul-Jabbar said.

Now in his first season as a special assistant coach with the Lakers, in charge of developing the 18-year-old Bynum, Abdul-Jabbar watched in approval as the rookie center used a spin move to beat Shaquille O'Neal for a dunk in Monday's game.

"He's grooming Andrew Bynum," Kobe Bryant said of Abdul-Jabbar, "and I think you see the aggressiveness in him."

After a surprising start to the season, Bynum has played in only five of 19 games since forward Kwame Brown returned from a hamstring injury last month. He played all of 3 minutes against the Heat, yet nearly stole the show from Bryant and O'Neal.

Bynum said the move he used on O'Neal - fake middle, spin baseline - was straight from Abdul-Jabbar's teachings. He was so lost in the clouds after the dunk, Bynum said he didn't even feel the elbow O'Neal clocked him with at the other end.

As for Bynum's draft-night comparison to O'Neal, except for making his free throws, the jury is still out. Bynum is shooting 33 percent from the line this season compared to O'Neal's 45 percent.

Bynum said he would welcome the chance to play against O'Neal nex tseason and was asked about replacing O'Neal as the Lakers' showcase center.

"A lot of people feel that way," Bynum said. "I'm no way near his level yet but in a couple years, I'll definitely be there." </div>

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<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Diesel:</div><div class="quote_post">One good play and everyones all over Bynums balls. If I recall that play was the only thing he did the whole game too. Bynum is very cocky especially for a 17 year old in the NBA. I think that will hurt him at some point in his career.</div>

I admit the Bynum play is completely overhyped, but he's used so sparingly that when he does something like that the fans just jump all over it. It's like wow, I can't believe he just did that. It's like watching your kid take it's first step or say it's first word, you can't help but get caught up in the moment.

 

He isn't cocky, he's confident. If Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, and Phil Jackson all have confidence in you, you should have it in yourself, as well. The kid is a work horse. I'm telling you right now, if Kwame had that support coming into the league, he would've been a different player today, the player that Bynum is going to turn into.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Johnnybrasco:</div><div class="quote_post">Something tells me, i desagana diop had played his first years in LA, this article would have been written about him.</div>

Diop is a poor example, he simply never had the attention he needed to develop in Cleveland. Look at him now, just one season of being with a real coaching staff and he's made some strides in Dallas. Diop is still raw, if you want to be fair, this is his real rookie season. It's the only time he's had some stability around him and has been healthy. In Cleveland he played for a different coach every year and his injuries curbed his growth as a player.

Same goes for Kwame Brown in Washington. When the Lakers had a chance to work with him in the summer, they came to the conclusion he was probably never coached to play as a big man before. They were shocked out how little he knew about the PF & C position. About half way into the season spent with a real coaching staff Kwame is showing some improvement, especially on defense.

Now for Bynum, he's had the red carpet treatment from day one. Kareem Abdul Jabar, Phil Jackson, and host of other top quality big men working with him all summer and all season long. They've all praised his ability to be a sponge and absorb the knowledge they're handing down to him.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting superman32:</div><div class="quote_post">didnt MJ try to push Kwame?
he encouraged him the way he became great - critcism
Kwame replied the wrong way to that
<font color="red">Watch the language

K8B</font></div>

Wrong. MJ called Kwame a "b***h, a f****t, and a p***y" That doesn't build up confidence. Then you throw in a coach who has no faith in a player at all, there goes all your confidence out of the window. Trust me, I would know. I followed Kwame from day 1 in the league. I watched every single game he played as a Wizard.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting xclutchx:</div><div class="quote_post">Jordan was pissed he wasted #1 pick on him. Kwame didnt show the work ethic Mike wanted to see in his #1 draft pick!!</div>

Jordan wanted Kwame. Jordon, being on his elite status, expected way too much out of a HS rookie. He wanted Brown to instantly turn the team around. Brown wasn't LeBron out of HS. He also didn't have any bigmen mentors, a coach that believed in him, or any friends on the team. He had no one to go to with questions, no one on a personal level. Jordan reminded him of his father, and if you don't know, Kwame's father used to physically and verbally abuse him and his mother. He then bounced on his family. That is plenty of explanation as to why Kwame didn't pan out in Washington.