<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[imgr]http://www.pe.com/imagesdaily/2005/07-09/lakers09a_300.jpg[/imgr] LONG BEACH - Along with a packed crowd at the Pyramid Friday night sat Lakers coach Phil Jackson, all of them taking their first look at Andrew Bynum. Jackson was impressed with Bynum in his first game in the Summer Pro League. Jackson called Bynum -- a 17-year-old center the Lakers used their 10th pick in last month's draft to select out of St. Joseph in Metuchen, N. J. -- an athletic, raw and competitive player. Jackson wanted it known that he was in full agreement with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak to draft Bynum despite a report that said otherwise. "I had to be convinced that at the position that we were choosing that there wouldn't be a player that could help us immediately," Jackson said. "I'm not saying that Andrew is not going to be able to help us this year ... Our decision was that the upside was much greater in this development area than perhaps getting a player that wouldn't be as high on potential ... We think this kid, potentially, the sky is the limit." Jackson said Bynum, a 7-foot, 275-pounder, has a big wing span, broad shoulders and is comfortable with his back to the basket. "And we don't know when he's going to stop growing, whether he's going to be 7-2 or whatever he's going to be," Jackson said. "But we do know this: that at 17 years old, he's got a lot of room and a lot of space to develop." Bynum finished with 12 points and nine rebounds in the Lakers' 93-85 loss to Memphis. Ronny Turiaf, the Lakers second-round pick, had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and guard Von Wafer had 12 points. "I thought I came out and played as hard as I could," Bynum said. Jackson had Shaquille O'Neal as a center when the Lakers won three straight NBA championships. Bynum has been called Baby Shaq. "I was thinking of playing him against Shaquille, for example, the other day, just as kind of a thought as to an educational opportunity," Jackson said. </div> Source
