L.A. Lakers Star Andrew Bynum to Undergo Surgical Procedure on His Knee

Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum will travel to Germany this summer to have Orthokine therapy on his knee, according to ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin.

This is the same treatment that Kobe Bryant underwent prior to this season. The procedure involves creating a serum out of the patient's own blood, then injecting the serum into the damaged area.

Orthokine therapy is becoming increasingly popular among professional athletes. Most recently, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and former No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden obtained the treatment.

After going through the procedure, Bryant averaged 2.6 points and 4.6 minutes more per game this year than he did in 2011.

"He just told me it helped him out," Bynum said about Bryant's opinion of the surgery, via McMenamin's report. The center continued, "Nothing feels wrong. It's supposed to regenerate tissue and stuff like that, so I want to check that out."

In 2012, Bynum had a breakout year that resulted in his first All-Star appearance. He averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, both career-highs. The Lakers' campaign ended with a 4-1 series defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals.

Bynum has had problems with knee injuries in the past and wears a brace when he plays. He missed significant time in each of his previous four seasons because of various health problems.

He also has faced a fair amount of controversy this season, as his name was constantly mentioned in trade rumors. Both the Lakers and any interested teams will likely monitor Bynum's progress as he completes treatment in Germany.