Los Angeles Lakers NBA Champion Speaks On What Happened To Andrew Bynum

Trevor Ariza recently spoke about Andrew Bynum.

February 13, 2011; Orlando FL, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum (17) reacts during the second quarter against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports / Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Bynum was once among the best players in the entire NBA.

By the time he was 23, he was arguably a top-three center.

However, Bynum dealt with injuries and was never able to return to All-Star form.

He played his last game in the NBA at 26.

That time Andrew Bynum put up a triple-double with blocks ... in the playoffs 😳 #BestOfLakersNuggets pic.twitter.com/rILkxAPbrr

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 23, 2020

Recently, Trevor Ariza was on the Forgotten Seasons podcast with Dylan Dreyfuss and Jelani McCoy.

Dreyfuss asked Ariza about Bynum (his former teammate).

Dreyfuss: "What happened to Andrew Bynum?"

Ariza: "As far was what?"

Dreyfuss: "I mean, he was killing. Was it just the injury?"

Ariza: "I think it was a number of things that probably happened. Again, this league is taxing mentally, it's a lot of things that you would have to deal with that people probably don't know. Plus, having to deal with whatever he was going through in his personal life. Those things can all take you off your course, man. Knock you off your square. Life happened, I would say. We don't know if he's in a space or a state where he's cool with where he is. You never know. As far as his game is concerned, he was one of the youngest players drafted in the history of the game. He just blossomed and got better and better and better and better and better every single year."

Bynum was the tenth pick in the 2005 NBA Draft and spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Lakers.

He made one All-Star Game and helped the Lakers win two NBA Championships.

His career averages are 11.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per contest while shooting 55.6% from the field in 418 regular season games for the Lakers, Cavs and Pacers.

Dec 23, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Andrew Bynum reacts in the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports / David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Ariza also added: "Not to get too deep into it, but he was very close with his family, and when he lost his mother, that took a real toll on him, like for real. That s**t is not light. You can't replace your mother. You only get one of them. Knowing what his mom meant to him and what his family means to him. I'm sure that had a lot to do with how we don't really hear much about him right now."

When 18 year old Andrew Bynum didn't back down from Shaq pic.twitter.com/YE8uZAL9ok

— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) April 28, 2024