Andrew Bynum’s Back! So How Well Did He Attack?

LA Daily News: Andrew Bynum still isn’t old enough to vote, at least for another two days, but the Lakers’ first-round draft pick was thrown into his first NBA game Tuesday night, a 95-85 exhibition victory against Utah at The Pond.

Bynum played a little more than 19 minutes, some with Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom on the floor, and matched up against Jazz center Greg Ostertag, a 10-year veteran with a Fred Flintstone tattoo on his right calf.

The 17-year-old center played to good reviews, only a day after he returned to practice from an abdominal injury. With the season opener a week away, Lakers coach Phil Jackson deemed it time to get Bynum his first taste of the NBA.

He finished with two points and seven rebounds, and had to be shoved into the low post by Bryant on defense just once. Bynum also was part of the group in the fourth quarter that gave back most of the Lakers’ 21-point lead.

“I felt that I got into a pretty good rhythm,” Bynum said. “I went out there and just tried to do my best.

“My offensive game, I’m still working on. I’ve just got to get stronger, so I can be stronger with the ball. On defense, I’m just trying to grab the rebound as soon as I can.”

Bynum forced his way between Ostertag and Andrei Kirilenko for his lone basket. He hadn’t played a game since the Summer Pro League, but beat Ostertag with a nice spin move, though he couldn’t finish on the play.

Assistant coach Kurt Rambis was in Bynum’s ear at every timeout. The work for Bynum today will focus on defensive rotations and recognition. Jackson, meanwhile, said he would try to find Bynum minutes whenever they come.

“He had a nice opportunity out there to play against a big guy like Ostertag,” Jackson said.

So what did you think about Bynum tonight? Is he ready for the NBA or should we send him to the D-League a couple times this season? Sound off on our CL.com Forums!