Andrew Bynum: Superstar Center Needs to Keep Quiet and Continue Rehab

While the Los Angeles Lakers are a huge target for criticism—due to their heralded offseason that hasn’t translated into much success on the court—Andrew Bynum needs to avoid taking pot shots at his former team and work on his recovery.

The big man talked to reporters prior to the Philadelphia 76ers’ 111-98 loss to the Lakers on Sunday, and had some controversial statements to make about his status as the league’s best center and how Kobe Bryant hurt his development.

According to ESPN Los Angeles’ Dave McMenamin:

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"Personally I think they traded No. 1 for No. 2," Bynum said, "I think Dwight [Howard] is a great player, but he's going to have to get accustomed to playing with Kobe and not touching the ball every single play,” 

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Bynum is referring to when the Philadelphia 76ers acquired him in the four-team mega-trade this past summer, which landed Dwight Howard in L.A., Andre Iguodala in Denver and a ton of picks and young pieces in Orlando. Bynum feels that he’s the best center in the NBA, and DH12 is behind him.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case outside of Bynum’s head. To most neutral observers, the Sixers got the bum end of the deal, as Bynum has yet to get on the court for a single minute of the 2012-13 season.

Howard’s Lakers are just 11-14 through more than a quarter of the 2012-13 season, but his 18.2 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game are contributing much more than the zeroes that Bynum is averaging for the 2012-13 Sixers.

Until the injury-prone 25-year-old can get back on the court, he needs to keep his mouth shut and continue rehabbing. Talking about how Kobe hurt his development will not make his knee heal faster, and calling himself better than DH12 is just creating unrealistic expectations for his return.

Bynum has been nothing but a distraction during his time in the City of Brotherly Love, and until he can back up his trash talk on the hardwood, it would be wise for him to take a vow of silence.