Lakers' Bynum Rehabs by Hooping With Playmates

When you think of Andrew Bynum playing a little hoop, it's usually with him in a Lakers uniform. But over the weekend, with his team in the middle of seven-game road trip, Bynum stayed behind for some rehab on his injured knee -- as well as a trip to the Playboy Mansion.

The event was the Playboy Celebrity Golf Scramble, and initially, a picture surfaced with Bynum carrying a playmate on his shoulders. Then came the video, one in which Bynum can be seen hula-hooping with some playmates.


Some might see this as a sign that Bynum isn't serious about his basketball career, but thankfully, Phil Jackson doesn't fall into that category. Speaking before the Lakers' loss in Charlotte, Jackson

said

he didn't see any harm in Bynum's actions.

"There’s a lot being made out of that that’s unnecessary … Andrew’s a 21-year-old guy who’s been out of basketball for 5 1/2, six weeks, and he’s got to have some energy and have some fun. I don’t know if putting a girl on your shoulders or not is (wise). … But the fact that people are beating him up over that, that’s crazy. Andrew’s doing fine and he’s going to be fine.”

Phil's right about this -- any criticism being lobbed in Bynum's direction is completely unwarranted. It's not like he was put there playing tackle football, or even pickup basketball out there: he was simply having some harmless fun.

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