Teammates Have Andrew Bynum’s Back But For How Long?

Newsflash! Andrew Bynum is immature! Video at 11.

We didn’t need another Baby Bynum meltdown against Houston to confirm what we already knew from Andrew Bynum’s parking habits. Learning that the Lakers had secretly fined Bynum for his unprofessional antics only reiterated what we saw when he went cheap shot artist on J.J. Barea.

Andrew Bynum is a big kid trapped in a grown man’s body. Nothing news worthy about that any longer.

Not when the Laker organization keeps enabling him and not when his teammates keep preaching patience.

Kobe Bryant was an immature superstar once upon a time. Not unlike what Bynum did last night, Kobe ignored a direct order from Phil Jackson to not blab to the media. Bryant did an about face and dialed Peter Vescey to dish the dirt on Shaq. So who is Kobe to judge Drew for ignoring Mike Brown’s plea to avoid getting another technical?

There was once a time when Metta World Peace was known as Ron Artest. Back then Artest was most known for one of the ugliest incidents in the history of sports when he attacked a fan in the stands. So who is World Peace to tell Bynum his actions are selfish?

Then again, when you’ve got a league of youthful yet unprepared millionaires what else would you expect?

Bynum’s maturity issues are only the current flavor of the week. Dwight Howard’s childish nature has been monopolizing the front page this season. Last year it was LeBron James and his school boy behavior that set fire to the NBA.

When asked about how Bynum’s absence affected the Lakers’ loss to the Rockets, World Peace openly admitted it played a big role in the Lakers’ collapse. Then he quickly pointed out that there was no ill will towards Bynum.

Bryant too has come to Drew’s defense, acknowledging the maturity issues but preaching the patient approach.

You like to see teammates picking one another up. That’s what being a teammate is all about, after all. Problem is where will the line be drawn? Will it take a costly meltdown in a crucial game? Perhaps it will take Bynum giving Bryant the cold shoulder to get a real conversation going.

Whatever it is the Lakers had better hope it’s not more costly than a regular season loss. At this point every game is a potential playoff preview of some sort. There are nothing but Western Conference opponents on L.A.’s schedule from here out, seemingly every one fighting for playoff position. These games might not mean much to a man in his early 20’s with a career ahead but to the vets trying to get all they can this means much more. Clearly urgency is something that is lost on Bynum.