Andrew is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He spent most of his career with the National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Lakers.
Andrew Bynum’s career was full of ups and downs. With huge expectations on his shoulders, the gifted center entered the NBA straight out of high school as an 18-year-old boy.
He was moved to the Philadelphia 76ers in 2012 as a part of a four-team transaction that brought All-Star center Dwight Howard to Los Angeles after seven seasons with the Lakers.
The athlete signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Cavaliers, with whom he played for a short time before being moved to the Chicago Bulls, who later released him.
For the remainder of the 2013–14 season, he signed with the Indiana Pacers.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Andrew Bynum |
| Nickname | The Big |
| Birth Date | October 27, 1987 |
| Birth Place | Plainsboro Township, New Jersey |
| Residence | Not Available |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Education | St. Joseph (Metuchen, New Jersey) |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Father’s Name | Ernest Bynum |
| Mother’s Name | Janet McCoy |
| Siblings | Ernest Bynum Jr and Corey Thomas Bynum |
| Age | 37 years old |
| Height | 7 feet |
| Weight | 285 lb (129 kg) |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Body Type | Athletic |
| Profession | Former Basketball Player |
| Marital Status | Not Available |
| Wife | Not Available |
| Children | None |
| Active since | 2005 – 2014 |
| Teams |
|
| Endorsements | Nike |
| Net Worth | $45 million |
| NBA Draft | 2005 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10th overall |
| Position | Center |
| League | NBA |
| Merch | Trading Card |
| Social Media | None |
| Last Update | November, 2024 |
Andrew Bynum | Early Life & Family
Andrew Bynum was born in Plainsboro Township, New Jersey, on October 27, 1987.
Bynum is the son of Ernest Bynum and his ex-wife Janet McCoy, who divorced when he was only a year old. He has an older brother named Corey.
Ricky O’Donnell of SB Nation pointed out that Bynum isn’t solely a basketball player, as documented in Lee Jenkins’ 2011 Sports Illustrated feature.
He has a plethora of hobbies, most of which are unrelated to sports.
Bynum’s childhood became a challenge of what he could disassemble and reassemble to “find out what the hell is going on.”
Bynum’s first love was electronics, which he used in everything from phones to laptops.
He was solely thinking about institutions where he could specialize in mechanical engineering – basketball wasn’t a front, but it wasn’t the only thing he was thinking about.
Andrew Bynum | Career
Early Career
Bynum attended St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, New Jersey. He spent most of his first year at Plainsboro, New Jersey’s West Windsor Plainsboro High School North.
Andrew went to Solebury School in Solebury, PA, for the rest of his first and second years.
He scored 9 points and grabbed five rebounds in the 2005 McDonald’s All-American game.
He had intended to join the University of Connecticut on a basketball scholarship; instead, the 17-year-old decided to enter the NBA straight away and declared himself eligible for the 2005 NBA draft, where the Los Angeles Lakers selected him.
Professional Career
The Los Angeles Lakers selected Bynum with the 10th overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft. He was 12 days younger than Jermaine O’Neal, the previous youngest player picked by an NBA franchise, at 17 years and 244 days.
When the Lakers won their second consecutive title in 2010, Bynum was an even more significant part of the puzzle, generally staying healthy and scoring a career-high 15 points per game.
Bynum had his best season two years later, earning his first and only NBA All-Star selection while averaging 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds.
However, worries about his maturity and attitude became an issue, and his career fell apart.
At 24 years old, Andrew Bynum was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in August 2012 as part of the four-team transaction that brought Dwight Howard to Los Angeles.
Andrew played 24 games with the Cavs before being prohibited in December 2013 for conducting harmful activity to the team.
It arose from shooting the ball every time he touched it in practice, regardless of how far away from the basket he was.
In January 2014, he was dealt with the Chicago Bulls and waived to free salary-cap space.
There have been countless stories about Andrew Bynum making a comeback attempt since he last played in the NBA. But nothing has ever taken a severe turn.
Andrew Bynum | Body Features
Bynum possessed the whole package for a center at 7′, with strength, mobility, and a low-post game.
The idea that basketball may be the most viable career is popular when you’re built like a tower, 7-feet and 285 pounds like Andrew.
Andrew is a fragile individual whose frame has failed him. Someone appeared to be on the verge of breaking the all-time rebounding and blocked shot records but couldn’t manage his own body’s disintegration.
Moreover, he was removed from a collegiate “find yourself” period, where introversion and risk shaped his temperament.
Andrew Bynum | Injury
Andrew Bynum’s knee ailments had plagued him since he was 12 years old, but the youngster was getting better with each passing year.
Bynum had Orthokine treatments on both knees about a week before training camp to help his arthritis recover.
After experiencing knee soreness at the outset of camp, the 76ers chose to keep Bynum out of basketball workouts for three weeks as a precaution. He also had a bone injury in his right knee, unrelated to his therapies.
Before the season, he did not practice or play with the squad, and he suffered another setback when his left knee was injured while bowling.
According to reports, Bynum’s knees had begun to degrade after not playing since the end of February.
With swelling on his right knee, he admitted on March 1 that he might not be able to play by the conclusion of the season but said his left knee was healthy.
Bynum underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery on both knees on March 19, concluding his time with the 76ers without appearing in a game.
Clash with Kobe Bryant
In the 2011-12 season, Andrew was an All-Star, but his career suddenly plummeted. He had a falling out with Kobe Bryant, and the Lakers traded him to the 76ers in 2012.
Without Andrew, the Lakers would have been much more susceptible. On the other hand, Bryant never entertained the concept of the young center being ruled out.
When questioned about his thoughts about hearing of Bynum’s injury, he gave a straightforward answer. “Welcome to the club.”
In addition to his persistent knee issues, he has faced questions about his maturity and motivation throughout his career.
He concluded that Kobe’s presence may have hampered his growth after spending an entire segment, arguing that Bryant’s presence benefitted him “tremendously.”
Andrew Bynum | Controversies
Bynum has been the subject of numerous controversies in the past.
Andrew Bynum was fined $353 for parking his black BMW in two indicated disabled places outside of a Bristol Farms market in Westchester, California. When questioned, Bynum even refused to engage with reporters and drove away.
Andrew Bynum had the opportunity to learn from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during his early years with the Lakers, which not many rookie centers get.
Abdul-Jabbar is widely regarded as one of the best players in Lakers’ history, and there’s no doubt that he helped Bynum enhance his game.
On the other hand, the arrogant young center believed he could perform better on his own and decided to forego the great instructor.
Rumor of Sleeping With Coach’s Wife
Bynum, who was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team and then given paid vacation after his unpaid suspension ended, allegedly had “relationships” with the wife of one of the Cavs coaching staff members, Jamahl Mosley.
According to Media Take Out, the information came from a person who claims to be a “girlfriend” of one of the Cleveland Cavaliers players, which is how she could authenticate the specifics.
The controversy was never confirmed, and no one can say whether or not this story is accurate, but given Bynum’s immature and unpredictable conduct, anything is possible.
Andrew Bynum | Girlfriend
Andrew has been quiet about his personal life, and there is no information about his love life or other individual facts available.
The athlete is not married or committed to anyone at this time. However, Andrew has had affairs.
Andrew Bynum | Net Worth
Andrew is paid $16.7 million every triumph, according to Forbes. He demands $250,000 in exchange for an endorsement. Nike is one of his sponsors.
He was mentioned in the 2013 edition of The World’s Highest-Paid Athletes. His estimated net worth is $45 million.
Bynum signed a two-year, $3.9 million rookie contract with the Lakers.
Andrew Bynum looked like a good center LA could use as a complementing component to play with Kobe Bryant after his sophomore season. For Bynum’s third season, the team exercised his rookie option, worth $2.1 million.
Eventually, Bynum chose to accept a one-year, $1 million contract with the Pacers, but he only played in two games for the team.
Bynum made $70.1 million during his NBA career, split between four teams.
Awards & Achievements
- 2× NBA champion (2009, 2010)
- All-NBA Second Team (2012)
- NBA All-Star (2012)
- McDonald’s All-American (2005)
- Third-team Parade All-American (2005)
Social Media Presence
Andrew Bynum is not active on social media accounts. However, you can find many fan pages dedicated to him.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why did Andrew Bynum retire early?
Bynum didn’t have much playing time, but he was still productive. In the 2013-14 season, he averaged 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds for Cleveland. He retired from the league at 26 due to his injuries.
