3. Andrew Bynum
It is an unfortunate story that of Andrew Bynum. He was supposed to be the last dominant center in the NBA and in the lineage of Los Angeles Lakers’ big men. Unfortunately, his knees could not support his talent, shortening his career when he was still a young player in the process of blooming.
Drafted as the youngest player in the history of the league, Bynum began his rise in the late 2000s but his seasons were always cut short by knee injuries. 2010 was the first time he managed to play the majority of a season and the playoffs proving he really had great potential, helping the Lakers get their revenge against the Boston Celtics. That season, at 22 years old, he averaged 15 points and 8.3 rebounds despite playing with All-Star Pau Gasol.
He continued his improvement despite injuries, until 2012 when he earned his first All-Star selection and All-NBA honor, becoming Lakers’ second option after Kobe Bryant with averages of 18.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. He also had a triple-double in the first playoff game that year.
Bynum was on the verge of becoming the best center in the league and just entering his prime, but his body would eventually fail him. His knees could not hold up and the Lakers decided to trade him to avoid future surprises. As a matter of fact, his career was over soon after, not able to recover from multiple setbacks.
The Lakers had been able to draft and develop a great talent that picked in the 2010s. Had he remained healthy, things could have gone differently for the purple and gold.