Cheap Shot Goes Unnoticed: Lakers Center Andrew Bynum Suspended Five Games For Flagrant Foul Against Mavericks

Photo Credit: Keith Allison

The NBA has just announced that Lakers center, Andrew Bynum, will be suspended for the first five games of next season for his classless act during the Lakers last playoff game in 2011. In addition, Bynum will also be fined a total of $25,000 for removing his jersey while being ejected from the game. The punishment, suspension and fine combined, is said to be a total of roughly $700,000 for the Lakers center.

Shortly after the game was over on Sunday afternoon, there were a lot of criticisms shining towards Andrew Bynum. Lakers past legends, such as Magic Johnson and even Jerry West were embarrassed of the way the Lakers players acted during the blowout loss. People wondered why the champions for the past two years were suddenly acting like players who have never won.

During an interview with Andrew Bynum, the Lakers big man expressed remorse and stated the below:

“My actions … don’t represent me, my upbringing, this franchise or any of the Lakers fans out there that want to watch us and want us to succeed. Furthermore, and more importantly, I want to actually apologize to J.J. Barea for doing that. I’m just glad that he wasn’t seriously injured in the event and all I can say is, I’ve looked at the replay, it’s terrible and it definitely won’t be happening again.”

For fans that don’t follow the Los Angeles Lakers, there were a few other instances in the regular season where Bynum purposely fouled an opponent out of anger. The Lakers center is starting to have a reputation for being a dirty player. These childish actions do not bode well for Bynum’s future with the Lakers and could indeed have him thrown out of Los Angeles.

We’ll have to wait and see, but directions are pointing to Andrew Bynum no longer wearing purple, gold, and white for the start of next season.

See below for Andrew Bynum’s flagrant foul