Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recalls Andrew Bynum’s inconsistent commitment

Well before the Cleveland Cavaliers suspended Andrew Bynum for conduct detrimental to the team, the Lakers worried about Bynum’s behavior level too.

Even if Bynum played an integral part in bringing the Lakers’ two NBA championships through seven seasons, the Lakers fretted about some of his antics that yielded inconsistent focus.

Former Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar saw that first hand when he worked with him from 2005-2009 as a special assistant coach.

“When I worked with Andrew, I found him to be bright & hardworking but I think he got bored with the repetitive nature of working on basketball fundamentals day in and day out,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote Sunday on his Facebook page. “But they are the keys to long term success.”

Abdul-Jabbar’s coaching duties were significantly scaled back in the 2008-09 season after Bynum expressed a lack of interest to the Lakers’ staff in working with Abdul-Jabbar.

Bynum helped the Lakers to two NBA championships in 2009 and 2010 and earned in his lone All-Star appearance in the 2011-12 season before being dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers in a four-team, 12-player deal that resulted in the acquisition of Dwight Howard.

But Bynum showed plenty of questionable behavior.

Bynum was benched during a game in the 2011-12 season for launching an ill-advised three-pointer and was fined by the team for his conduct. He was also ejected from two games in a two-week span and he sometimes acknowledged lacking effort. Bynum also skipped a meeting with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak. Bynum was also caught numerous times parking in illegally handicapped spaces. Those incidents soured an otherwise breakout season where he posted career highs in points (18.7), rebounds (11.8) and minutes played (32).

“I believe Andrew has always had the potential to help a team when he puts his heart into it,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote. “He just doesn’t seem to be consistent with his commitment to the game. That can lead to a lot of frustration for any team that has signed him.”

Last season in Philadelphia, Bynum made a name for himself for his outgrown hair and injuring his left knee while bowling. Bynum also suffered a bone bruise in his right knee shortly after a procedure this offseason in Germany. He didn’t play the entire season before signing with Cleveland via free agency. Bynum averaged only 8.4 points on 41.9 percent shooting and 5.3 rebounds in 20 minutes through 24 games with Cleveland, his lowest marks since the 2006-07 season with the Lakers. Published reports also suggested Bynum lost interest in basketball.

“In my opinion Andrew is the type of person who walks to the beat of “a different drummer,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote. “So we won’t know the facts until Andrew decides to tell us what actually is the issue and shares his thoughts.”

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Steve Nash participates in shooting drills after morning shootaround

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com

Steve Nash participates in shooting drills after morning shootaround

Two significant pieces to the Lakers’ roster took part in morning shootaround, but the team will have to wait before Steve Nash and Steve Blake actually return in a game.

Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni estimated Nash remains two weeks away after completing some shooting drills Sunday with video coordinator Tom Bialaszewski. Blake is considered four weeks away from returning after continued shooting left handed while nursing a brace to support his hyperextended right elbow. Nash has stayed sidelined for the past 22 games because of nerve issues in his back, while Blake has missed the last nine contests because of his elbow issue.

The latest progression has involved Blake running, while Nash has gone to Vancouver with his personal trainer Rick Celebrini during the Lakers’ recent trips.

“He feels better,” D’Antoni said of Nash. “It’s a big rock and he’s pushing ahead.”
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Pau Gasol out, Chris Kaman game-time decision vs Philadelphia

Center Pau Gasol remains sidelined with an upper respiratory infection, while center Chris Kaman remains a game-time decision when the Lakers (13-17) host the Philadelphia 76ers (8-20) tonight at Staples Center.

Gasol has already sat out two of the past four games because of his ailment and he didn’t participate in Sunday’s morning shootaround. D’Antoni said he’s listed as day-to-day, making it possible Gasol would suit up Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

“He feels better,” D’Antoni said of Gasol. “I would think next game he would be ready.”

Kaman suffered a moderate sprain in his left ankle in the final minute of the Lakers’ 105-103 loss Friday to the Utah Jazz, but he participated in the team’s morning session.

“That’s encouraging,” But D’Antoni said of Kaman. “He did his stuff. He should be okay. But he’ll warm up tonight and we’ll find out.”
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Mike D’Antoni disagrees with Nick Young’s gripes about officials disrespecting Lakers

Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni yells an official during their game against the Heat at the Staples Center December 25, 2013. The Heat beat the Lakers 101-95. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News)

Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni yells an official during their game against the Heat at the Staples Center December 25, 2013. The Heat beat the Lakers 101-95. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News)

A two hour plane ride from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles may have softened Nick Young’s frustration over the Lakers’ two-point loss Friday to the Utah Jazz.

But if anything, the flight emboldened his belief that the officials showed him and his teammates disrespect, and played a part in fouling out for the third time in his six-year NBA career.

“I still feel the same,” Young said. “But I can’t do nothing about it. Like I said, I need to keep all my money in my pocket.”

Young’s views may have matched what his teammates have privately shared. But they don’t match the perspective of Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni, perhaps mindful that the Lakers shot more foul shots (16-of-23) than the Jazz (16-of-20).

“I don’t know if that’s quite true,” D’Antoni said. “We should’ve won last night in the sense of we were there and didn’t execute a couple of things down toward the end. It happens. But we have a nice homestand coming up that’s important for us. So I expect us to play well.”

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Nick Young argues Andrew Bynum received unfair criticism in Philadelphia

It didn’t matter that Nick Young hasn’t followed Andrew Bynum’s lone season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, or that he wasn’t aware that Cleveland suspended him indefinitely for undisclosed conduct detrimental to the team.

But the mere mention of Bynum’s name prompted Young to laugh as he recalled their lone season together last year with the Philadelphia 76ers, a year that featured Bynum sitting out the entire time because of lingering knee issues.

“He just does his own thing,” Young told this newspaper. “Bynum is going to be Bynum no matter where he goes.”
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Pau Gasol, Chris Kaman considered game-time decisions against Sixers

The Lakers’ Pau Gasol #16 looks to pass as the Heat's Dwyane Wade #3 defends during their game at the Staples Center December 25, 2013. The Heat beat the Lakers 101-95. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News)

The Lakers’ Pau Gasol #16 looks to pass as the Heat’s Dwyane Wade #3 defends during their game at the Staples Center December 25, 2013. The Heat beat the Lakers 101-95. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News)

Both centers Pau Gasol and Chris Kaman are considered game-time decisions when the Lakers (13-17) host the Philadelphia 76ers (8-20) Sunday at Staples Center.

Kaman suffered a moderate sprain in his left ankle in the final minute of the Lakers’ 105-103 loss Friday to the Utah Jazz. Gasol sat out two of the past four games because of an upper respiratory infection. Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said neither of them practiced on Saturday.

Gasol hasn’t spoken to reporters since a visit with an eye, nose and throat specialist on Thursday showed his respiratory illness worsened. Kaman didn’t talk on Saturday, either, but he appeared downtrodden about both his injury and inconsistent playing time.

D’Antoni offered some encouraging words about Kaman’s health.

“It’s pretty favorable,” D’Antoni said. “He feels better about it. The swelling’s not too bad.”
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Nick Young frustrated with the Lakers’ perceived lack of respect

The Lakers’ Nick Young #0 reacts after sinking a 3-point shot during their game against the Heat at the Staples Center December 25, 2013. The Heat beat the Lakers 101-95. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News)

The Lakers’ Nick Young #0 reacts after sinking a 3-point shot during their game against the Heat at the Staples Center December 25, 2013. The Heat beat the Lakers 101-95. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht/Los Angeles Daily News)

SALT LAKE CITY — For the first time this season, Nick Young wasn’t smiling.

After fouling out in only the second time of his six-year NBA career in the Lakers’ 105-103 loss Friday to the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena, Young shared he felt “disrespected” on what led him toward missing the final 5:45 of the game.

“I don’t feel we get the proper respect that everybody else gets when it comes to how things turn out there on the court,” Young said. “I play a major role. I’m not going to call no names and I’m not going to say it was the ref’s fault. But just watch the film and see what was going on out there.”

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Chris Kaman has a “moderate” sprain in his left ankle

SALT LAKE CITY — Uncertainty lingers on whether Chris Kaman will suit up again, and the reasons go beyond falling low on Mike D’Antoni’s depth chart.

In what marked his second start of the past week because of Pau Gasol’s worsening upper respiratory infection, Kaman suffered what Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni called a “moderate” sprain in his left ankle that kept him out of the final minute of the Lakers’ 105-103 loss Friday to the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. That also put a damper on Kaman’s 19 point performance on 7-of-11 shooting and 10 rebounds.

Kaman said his ankle “feels fine” as he kept it in a bucket of ice in the Lakers’ locker room. But he conceded he has “no idea” if he’ll be considered healthy enough to play when the Lakers host the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday at Staples Center. The Lakers plan to reevaluate Kaman on Saturday.

Kaman didn’t seem bothered by his ankle, but he still showed irritation with his diminished role that has entailed sitting on the bench for 13 of the Lakers’ 30 games this season.

“I have no approach. I get shuffled around so when it’s my turn, my turn,” Kaman said. “I try to take advantage of the opportunities I’m given and it’s not easy. But it’s part of the job. People are paying me to do a job so I have to do it the best I can and that’s what I do. It’s not easy. But I’m trying to be a pro here and do the right thing. We’ll see. Everything changes constantly.”
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Nick Young mastering the four-point play

Nick Young has managed to perform something more times this season than Kobe Bryant ever managed to do in their years with the Lakers.

Young has completed four four-point plays this season, a franchise record, including three of the four previous contests. The only players to complete two or more four-point plays in a single season with the Lakers include Bryant, Derek Fisher, Eddie Jones and Sasha Vujacic. OK, so Young’s accomplishment may pale to Bryant’s five championship rings. But in a skill Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni called “uncanny,” he had trouble processing Young’s achievement.

“I don’t know how they can do that. I couldn’t make an open 3 just by myself,” said D’Antoni, who played overseas in Italy. “I don’t know how they can both draw the foul and be able to make it. It’s a mystery. But he does have that ability.”

How?

“He shoots it more and then acts like he got fouled,” joked Jordan Farmar, Young’s longtime friend. “They fall for it every time.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com

Chris Kaman to start in place of sick Pau Gasol vs. Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — In the second time in less than a week, Chris Kaman will start in place of Pau Gasol when the Lakers (13-16) play the Utah Jazz (8-23) tonight at EnergySolutions Arena because of a upper respiratory infection.

The lineup shift will mark the Lakers’ 15th different starting lineup since it also coincides with Jordan Farmar playing in his second consecutive game after nursing a strained left hamstring that sidelined him for the previous 10 games. Kaman has averaged 7.8 points on 46.4 percent shooting, but has played a diminished role because of D’Antoni’s preference for defensive-oriented players (Jordan Hill, Robert Sacre) and floor spacers (Shawne Williams).

“He has a lot of the characteristics that Pau has,” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said of Kaman. “It’s natural to start him. The only reason he wasn’t playing wasn’t because he was playing bad. IHe plays well. But Robert had a role of 5, 6 7 minutes at defense. Jordan at the 5 is devastating in there. That opens it up where he’ll have a body of work he’s comfortable with.”

The Lakers are also still nursing injuries to Kobe Bryant (fractured left knee), Steve Nash (nerve issues in back) and Steve Blake (hyperextended right elbow). Bryant traveled with the Lakers’ on their two-day trip here to rehab his knee. Both Nash and Blake stayed in Los Angeles and have been given the days off to spend time with their family.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@dailynews.com