Andrew Bynum's Injuries Prompt Cleveland Center to Consider Retirement

Andrew Bynum made his return to a basketball floor for the first time in over a year with the Cleveland Cavaliers on opening night, but that doesn't mean he's happy with his progress.

Speaking with the media Thursday after Cavaliers practice, Bynum expressed frustration that he's still experiencing pain in his chronically injured knees. As noted by ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Bynum acknowledged that retirement is and was a very real possibility if things don't get better soon.

"Retirement was a thought, it was a serious thought. It still is," Bynum said. "It's tough to enjoy the game because of how limited I am physically. I'm working through that. Every now and again I do [think about retirement]. …It's still career-threatening. I'm a shell of myself on the court right now. I'm just struggling mentally."

Bynum made his statement while preparing for the Cavaliers' game in Philadelphia on Friday night. It will be the first time Bynum has returned to the city since he left in the offseason for Cleveland after spending one ill-fated season with the 76ers. 

Bothered by chronic knee pain, Bynum failed to play in a game while the team built around his inside presence floundered. The 76ers' fans grew to resent their seven-footer, not only for for his on-court absence but because of his seemingly laissez-faire attitude toward the situation. Bynum re-injured his knee at one point while at a local bowling alley, and his time in Philadelphia became better known for his hairstyles than anything else.

Bynum, who expects to play Friday night, said he understands why he'll be jeered by the Wells Fargo Center faithful.

"If I could've played I would have," Bynum said. "I don't really care (how the fans will treat him), it is what it is. I was hurt and I'm still hurt but I'm trying…Nothing went bad, nothing went wrong. I think people just need to accept the facts that my knees are the way they are."

The 26-year-old center joined the Cavaliers this offseason on a two-year, incentive-laden contract that could be worth up to $24.5 million. Cleveland has multiple options within the deal to back out, should Bynum's knee issues flare up again or his effectiveness be sapped due to his multiple operations.

Arguably on the verge of becoming the game's best center in 2011-12, Bynum averaged 18.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was the cornerstone piece that allowed Los Angeles to acquire Dwight Howard for his short stay with the Lakers.

But in his limited time with the Cavaliers, Bynum has looked like a far different player. He's averaging 5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks over just 12.8 minutes per game but has shot 28 percent while limiting the effectiveness of Cleveland's second unit.

According to Synergy Sports, Bynum has shot just 4-of-13 in post-up situations this season—a marked deterioration from the player who had one of the smoothest post games in the league before being injured.

Coach Mike Brown has kept Bynum out of back-to-back situations to reserve his energy thus far, though Cleveland's schedule has allowed him to appear in four of five games. The Cavaliers head into their game Friday night with a 2-3 record following a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

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