Andrew Bynum Will Skip 2012 Olympics to Undergo Knee Procedure

LA Lakers center Andrew Bynum is giving up the chance to be an Olympian this summer in favor of having the same knee procedure teammate Kobe Bryant underwent during the 2011 offseason.

According to the Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan, Bynum will not participate in the 2012 London Olympics because in addition to having the operation, he also wants extra rest.

Bynum told Bresnahan on Friday: 

"

I've got to take care of my legs in the off-season. I've got some things planned for my knees. … I've got to do some therapy that I'm going overseas to do.

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The procedure, which Bynum will have in Germany, is less invasive than the work that has been performed on each of his knees in the past. It targets the proteins or molecules that cause inflammatory responses, according to Bresnahan, and once blood is removed from the affected area of the patient, the molecules that cause the inflammation are removed to create a serum that is then re-injected in the patient.

The procedure requires a very short recovery time.

Bynum injured his left kneecap in 2007-08, which rendered him unavailable for the rest of the season and the playoffs, including the Lakers' NBA Finals loss to the Celtics. 

In 2009, he injured his right knee but played through it en route to his first NBA championship, and in the 2010 playoffs, he played through a torn meniscus and a strained Achilles' tendon as the Lakers claimed their second straight championship, eventually undergoing surgery in July that summer.

What It Means

Hopefully, an end to Bynum's seemingly chronic knee problems. He's undergone procedures on both of them in the past and has seldom been able to stay healthy for the entirety of a season, until this one.

In 59 games this year, Bynum has registered 18.9 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per contest. 

What Comes Next

Team USA is going to have a tough time finding a top-tier center for the Olympics, which begin on July 29 in London.

Magic center Dwight Howard is having back surgery, so he won't be able to play, and LaMarcus Aldridge will undergo hip surgery that will rule him out as well.

Other options are Lamar Odom, who played center in the FIBA 2010 World Championships, and Chris Bosh or Kevin Love, both of whom are power forwards but could play center in the Olympics.