The Evolution of Greatness

'Drew started the season ready to brush off any critics who thought he wouldn't be the same after his knee injury last season, but the motivation was immediately relevant as Bynum came into training camp with broad shoulders, in pretty good game-shape, and ready to begin the road to the NBA Finals.

He's shown flashes of potential at times, but more times than not, Bynum has disappeared, and for certain stretches, you might have even forgotten that Bynum was on the team.

Bynum doesn't play defense. Bynum doesn't rebound. He only likes to score. And you can see that just by watching him early on in the season. He's the player on the court, where if he hasn't touched the ball a few possessions in a row, the next time he gets it, he's going to force it up, just to get his shots.

But alas, as mentioned before, he's young. He's 21, and came into the league as the youngest player ever to play in an NBA game. And while he shows unreal flashes of a player he can be, he still more times than not shows the player that he is at this moment in time.

He is working, though. And working very hard. And you can see it as nearly half the season has gone by.

With the help of one of the greatest centers to ever play in the NBA, Bynum is getting the hang of things. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has taught him the basics of being a dominant big man on the offensive side.

Three years into the league, #17 has arguably some of the best footwork in the league. His patience is beginning to grow, and he is now getting the ball in the post and eyeing his options before he goes to work..something Kareem had done time and time again.

You can see Kareem's soft touch and hands in Bynum as well. From the way he lays it off the glass on a hook shot, to the way he can glide to the rim and softly put it in the basket over anybody. Surely, that seven foot height helps, and that terribly massive wing-span plays a huge role in his success in the post.

His offense is already there, and it's only going to get better. However, Phil Jackson has always been quick to point out Bynum's lazy attitude and unwillingness to play defense.

Hell, at age 21, its clear all he wants to do is play offense, and put the ball in the bucket. That's what majority of ballplayers want to do at the end of the day, right?

Four games ago, something clicked inside of Andrew Bynum. Maybe it was Phil Jackson's ongoing rant. Maybe it was Kareem's words finally sinking in. Maybe it was Kobe Bryant pulling him aside. Maybe it was the L.A. Times mention of Bynum's failure to play any defense. Maybe it's every NBA analyst's conclusion that the Lakers are soft, and Andrew Bynum is the first one to disappear when players like Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard come into the paint.

Whatever it was, it has pushed Bynum into beast mode.

Jan. 21 - @ Clippers - 42, 15 and 3 blocks
Jan. 22 - Wizards - 23 and 14
Jan. 25 - Spurs - 15, 11 and 4 blocks
Jan. 27 - Bobcats - 24, 15 and 6 blocks

Yes, the Clippers and Wizards had no bigs available at game time. And Andrew took advantage of that and ate the Clippers and Wizards alive.

Against the Spurs on Sunday, Bynum only played 24 minutes (largely because of a Laker blowout), but hung with Duncan and refused to back down from the challenge. After the game, he told reporters that while Duncan may be his favorite player, he looks forward to playing games against the best forwards. He wasn't saying that a few weeks ago when Boston and Orlando were in LA. Is this just a four-game trend, and a few games later, Bynum will go back to the shadows?

Possibly. But at this stage in his career, he is...almost allowed to do that. But he's growing. And growing.

And the way he went after the ball in tonight's game against the Bobcats, and the way he abused Emeka Okafur in the post. It looked like Bynum believed every ball belonged to him. And he went and got it. And when the game came down to the wire, and Kobe Bryant had fouled out...the Lakers looked to Bynum, as he looked to the basket and scored almost willingly.

The Lakers did lose a game tonight. But every game they lose, he will get hungrier.

And every game they win, he will want more.

Because Andrew Bynum is evolving.

With living legends like Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson around him... Andrew Bynum is on the verge of greatness.

And he's only going to get better.
And it'll only become more and more clear.

But until then...watch him grow.