After the NBA All-Star starters were announced for the Western and Eastern Conferences, there was no player happier to be selected than first-time All-Star Andrew Bynum of the Los Angeles Lakers. That first All-Star nod was considered to be a great accomplishment for the 24-year-old center that had been battling injuries on an annual basis. Despite becoming a starter for the West, the up-and-coming big man was unable to be on the floor for more that five minutes and 31 seconds as he was recovering from a Synvisc injection in his right knee.
This injection is something that Bynum must get every six months in order to keep his knee lubricated and pain free. It is a shame that he couldn’t get more time on the floor to display his skills against Dwight Howard and the Eastern All-Stars, but the injection is crucial to prepare him for the second half of the NBA season. Even though Bynum was clearly not himself physically in the All-Star game, the Lakers center got back to form on Wednesday night in the win over the Minnesota Timberwolves (104-85) with 13 points and 13 rebounds which set a career-high with his 22nd double-double of the season.
Andrew Bynum talked with Mark Medina of the L.A. Times after the last night’s game at the Staples Center:
“My knee feels really, really good right now,” he said after posting 13 points and 13 rebounds in the Lakers’ 104-85 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
“The injection really helped,” Bynum said. “There’s no swelling.”
“I’m playing pain-free,” Bynum said. “It’s always a good thing.”
This is nothing but good news for the Los Angeles Lakers moving forward as they have their All-Star center healthy, playing well and ready to take on the second half of the season. This season Bynum is averaging 16.2 points and 12.8 rebounds (3rd in the NBA) per game.