03-Sep-08
Andrew Checks In from Atlanta
Hello everyone,
It’s been a while since I have had a chance to speak to all the Laker fans all over the world. Before my injury, my teammates and I had a great rhythm building for the game of basketball. Immediately following the injury I watched my team struggle a bit, and that was really difficult not being able to help them out. We then traded two of my best friends on the team, J Crid and Kwame Brown. I had mixed emotions about the trade at the time, but what we got back in the trade was an All Star with a lot of skills in Pau Gasol. He can shoot, rebound, pass, and basically do it all. He helped to right the ship and propel us into the playoffs. It turns out he is a really good guy, and I am looking forward to practicing and playing with him. We held on to our #1 spot in the West and went on to meet Boston in the Finals. That was really the most difficult situation I’ve ever had to deal with, not being there for my team and fans on the biggest stage in all of the NBA. The thing that kept me sane throughout the entire time I was out was my family and friends, fan support, and the fact that this Laker team is building for the long hall. WE WILL BE IN THE FINALS AGAIN.
For the past six weeks I’ve been here in Atlanta preparing for the upcoming season. The first couple of weeks were really to get my wind back and strengthen my leg. Wow was I out of shape, but fortunately it came back pretty fast. I have my mile run back down in the low sixes, I’m playing way above the rime, dunking the ball like crazy, and my leg is 100% pain free with no swelling. My trainer, Dr. Sean Zarzana, has me doing all types of workouts from track, strength, balance, basketball, stretching and yoga. All of the routines are extremely challenging, but I can feel my body returning to the form from. We will be returning to LA in the next few days to continue these workouts, and I am really looking forward to practicing with the coaching staff and all of my teammates as well. This week Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss stopped in for a visit. They watched me go through an upper body/track workout. After we had lunch at a local restaurant.
Congratulations to the entire United States Olympic Basketball Team especially Kobe, way to bring that gold medal back to the States. Pau Gasol also deserves to be congratulated on his silver medal performance. I hope I get a chance to continue the U.S dominance in London, 2012. The Olympics are truly special event, and one person that I feel needs to be commended is Michael Phelps, that was unbelievable!
On a more causal note, the best movie of the summer so far was definitely Batman. Heath Ledger performed brilliantly; R.I.P. Pineapple Express was also really good; I enjoy all of Seth Rogen’s movies. One of my best friends, and former Laker, Maurice Evens got married a few weeks ago to a great woman, Ally. It was a beautiful wedding; God Bless their union. Besides working out and site seeing in the “A” I haven’t been doing much. If any fans have questions you can email them to me at
questions@andrewbynum.com and I will answer as many as I can the next time I check in. Get ready for the season, because I certainly am, I hope to see more #17 jerseys, in that sea of faithful Laker fans at Staples.
Andrew Bynum
