Bynum not concerned about fans’ reception
Sixers host Cavaliers tonight
PHILADELPHIA — Usually, when the 76ers welcome back one of their former players to Wells Fargo Center, they greet them with a highlight-reel video montage. Andre Iguodala got one last season. So did Elton Brand.
Since Andrew Bynum never played in a Sixers uniform, he’s not anticipating similar treatment.
“No reception,” the Cleveland Cavaliers center said. “Just expecting to go out and play another game.”
Bynum is back in town, preparing for his new team’s meeting Friday night with his old team. The Cavaliers will play the Sixers at 7 p.m., and Bynum is expected to play … but that’s where he draws the line on expectations.
The 26-year-old, who missed all of last season with the Sixers due to a litany of knee ailments, said he does not care how fans receive him. He said
he does not care about his reputation in Philadelphia. He said his only memory from his season with the Sixers was “just frustration.” And he said his knees and his health are his primary concern and that he would have played last season if he could have.
Bynum spoke to reporters Thursday at Temple University’s Pearson-McGonigle Hall, following the Cavaliers’ practice there, and he sounded more resentful than remorseful. Bynum said he viewed his injury as “career-threatening.”
“I honestly don’t really care,” Bynum said of the boos he’s likely to receive. “I don’t know how they treat me. I don’t… I was hurt. It is what it is. And I’m still hurt, but I’m trying. I really don’t care. My health is my concern. My knees are my knees. They’re not going to get better. They are what they are. And that’s really it.”
While Bynum maintains that the line of communication between his doctors and the Sixers last season was solid, the conversations between the team and his agent were not. Bynum said he did not engage in contract talks with the Sixers, after earning $16.8 million in the final year of his deal. The Sixers, who traded for Bynum in a fourteam swap in August 2012, allowed Bynum to walk in free agency. He signed with the Cavaliers for $24 million over two seasons, though only $6 million and one season are guaranteed.
Bynum said he was not upset with his treatment by the Sixers.
“They treated me fine. Nothing went bad. Nothing went wrong,” he said. “People just need to kind of accept the facts that my knees are the way they are.
“I didn’t have (my) people involved. I had my own personal trainer that I like to use. And everything went well there. He went back home, Philly took over and I practiced one time. The knee swelled up, and that was that.”
Bynum, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees in March, has played in four of Cleveland’s five games. He’s averaging 5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 13 minutes per appearance. He’s still unable to jump or perform defensive slides, though he dunked Wednesday in a loss at Milwaukee – which might not have been the best idea.
He’s
experienced “sharp little pains” this season, said he’s “a shell” of himself and conceded he entertaining retirement following his one-season debacle with the Sixers.
“Yeah, it was a thought. It’s a serious thought. It still is,” Bynum said. “It’s tough to enjoy the game because of how I am physically. I’m certain I’ll work through that.
“I think I’m out of the rehab phase, but I think the stat was I’ve missed 567 days or something like that. … I’m just going out and trying to play.”
Bynum hasn’t been in touch with his former teammates, citing lockerroom turnover as the reason. He said he only has two goals moving forward in his career: “To be able to play without pain, and to discover the joy again.”
Joy – an emotion he likely will not feel Friday in South Philly.
“They’re still great fans,” Bynum said. “They come out and support the team. While I was here, I had nothing but love. I don’t have any animosity or anything.”
——— Evan Turner has never been one to be gun shy, pulling the trigger on an open shot whenever he sees one. But Turner has shown he’s more willing to take those shots in the paint, whereas he had opted for longer looks at the basket in years past.
The Sixers swingman is averaging 22.1 points this season on 55-percent shooting. The reason? Taking higher-percentage shots. Last season, 38.8 percent of Turner’s attempts came in the paint. This season, he’s upped that to 56.4 percent.
“I do what I’m comfortable with. I’ll take the shot if it’s open, but at the same time, I’m starting to get better and better at driving to the basket,” Turner told reporters at Thursday’s abbreviated practice. “When I attack the rim and get foul calls, it helps the team. Right now, I’m getting to the line, which is great. I hit a 3 yesterday, but that’s not my focus. It’s just taking the right shots, doing what’s in rhythm and staying confident.”