L.A. Lakers: Can Andrew Bynum Become a Top-5 NBA Player?

With each dominant game Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum plays, his confidence grows a little more, and you can tell that Bynum is finally believing he can be the superstar player the Lakers envisioned when they drafted him as a 17-year-old.

And if Bynum can stay healthy he's only going to get better, but how much better can he really be?

Most people use Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard as a measuring stick for Bynum, and if you only consider both player's numbers from the 2011-12 season Bynum's statistics compare very favorably with Howard's.

Howard averages 20.6 points per game, 14.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.1 blocks and shoots 57.3 percent from the field. Bynum averages 18.6 points per game, 12.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 2.0 blocks and shoots 55.8 percent from the field.

Those numbers are not too far apart, especially when you consider that Bynum usually shares the basketball with two other All-Stars in Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

That could be a good thing or bad thing when debating who the better player is, but one issue that is not up for debate, regardless of which player you favor, is the gap between them has definitely grown smaller.

Bynum may not be a better player than Howard right now, but if he can stay healthy it's not hard to imagine that Bynum can be a superior player in the future.

Bynum's offensive post game is already far more advanced than Howard's three-move arsenal, and the players are close when it comes to rebounding and defense as well.

Some analysts consider Howard to be a far superior defensive player, and they usually invoke his ability to change the course of a game without scoring a point. However, Bynum has that same talent—as his 30-rebound game against the San Antonio Spurs proved—but also expects to score points, and he has the skill to back those expectations up.

Howard is one of the most athletic players in the NBA so there are certain things he can do on the hardwood Bynum will never be able to match, but athleticism should never be confused with fundamental skill.

And Bynum has tons of it.

If Howard is arguably one of the NBA's top-five players as some have theorized, would that mean Bynum would gain that same recognition when, and if, he passes Howard as a player?

Most observers believe Howard belongs to an elite group that includes LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Dwyane Wade, and it's no coincidence Howard is the only post player among that group.

True low post centers are an extremely rare commodity in the NBA and it can be argued a dominant paint presence is the most important piece of a championship team. Not to say a dominant post player is necessary in a title quest, but it certainly make the journey a lot easier, unless you have Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on your team.

Bynum is only 24, which means he still has time to strengthen his gimpy knees, confront and correct his emotional issues and continue to improve as a player.

Bynum's improvement from last season to this point has been amazing, so how good could he be with a full year of good health under his belt, and the confidence he has built thus far?

I still will not go out on a limb and say Bynum will surpass Howard and join the ranks of top-five NBA players as early as next season, but if he can stay healthy it wouldn't surprise me if he did.