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Andrew Bynum May Not Play for Two More Months, the Sixers Say
By Kyle Scott
Published:
Oh this is great.
On Saturday, Bob Cooney wrote a scathing critique of the way in which the Sixers were communicating with the media and public about Andrew Bynum’s injury.
Today, the team released a statement on the matter. [Well played, Bob.] It reads, in part:
In mid-September 2012, Bynum suffered a bone bruise of his right knee. He was examined at that time by Dr. David W. Altchek of New York's Hospital for Special Surgery, Bynum's longtime personal doctor who is acting as the lead orthopedist in caring for Andrew's knee. It was initially communicated to the Sixers that Bynum should refrain from basketball activity for a period of four weeks to allow the knee to heal. His knee was re-evaluated on October 22 by Dr. Altchek, who extended by an additional four weeks to November 19 the time for Andrew to refrain from basketball activity.
Andrew received a fresh MRI and was seen again by Dr. Altchek this past week on Monday, November 5.
At that evaluation, Dr. Altcheck extended Andrew's return date for a second time by an additional three weeks. However, in what the Sixers believe is an optimistic sign, Dr. Altchek also indicated that Andrew could immediately resume low impact exercise. Low impact exercise for a period of two weeks is to be followed by three weeks of conditioning on an anti-gravity treadmill. The doctors and the team will be closely watching how Bynum's knee responds during this five week regimen. Upon successful completion, Bynum is expected to be able to resume normal basketball activity.
If the current prognosis holds unchanged, Bynum would be cleared to resume normal basketball activity by approximately December 10. In addition, the team estimates that Bynum in turn will need an additional 1-4 weeks thereafter for conditioning, training and practice before being able to resume game play with significant minutes.
Four weeks, four weeks, two weeks, three weeks, five weeks. HOW ABOUT SPEAKING IN MONTHS?!
Few things here: 1) The Sixers previously hadn’t made public that November 19 date… perhaps because telling fans before the season started that the star, hold a press conference for me at the Constitution Center center likely wouldn’t return to game action until around early December would have hurt ticket sales. Instead, on October 24, two days after Bynum visited the doctor, the Sixers said he wouldn't return until he was pain free. 2) Bynum has reportedly already been doing low-impact activity. So that’s nothing new. And 3), after another visit to the doctor, seven days ago, the Sixers were told Bynum is still a month away from basketball activity and that it could take up to another four weeks after that until he sees significant game action. I'm good at math, and it's telling me that Bynum might not play until after New Year.
Credit the Sixers for finally coming forward with information here. Maybe they looked out their window and saw the backlash that can occur when your front office is a bunch of secretive fucks who treat fans like dirt. But waiting a month to tell us, as people gobbled up tickets… well, that’s not cool, the Sixers.
Anyway, still not worried about Bynum’s knees?
Kyle Scott is the founder and editor of CrossingBroad.com. He has written for CBS Philly and Philly Voice, and been a panelist or contributor on NBC Sports Philly, FOX 29 and SNY TV, as well as a recurring guest on 97.5 The Fanatic, 94 WIP, 106.7 The Fan and other stations. He has more than 10 years experience running digital media properties and in online advertising and marketing.