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Andrew Bynum Injury: Updates on Center's Knee and Recovery

Rob Goldberg

Andrew Bynum has missed most of the last two seasons due to injuries, and it now appears as though he will be out for another year.

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports the New York Knicks are interested in the 26-year-old center, but he is considering surgery in Germany that would keep him out all season:

The 7-foot Bynum may not be reuniting with Phil Jackson’s Knicks or any other team next season because he is seriously contemplating sitting out 2014-15 to undergo the Germany-based knee therapy called “The Regenokine Program’’ that would require an extra long rehab, according to his agent David Lee. But he could be in play for the following season.

Regenokine is a non-surgical program that promotes new cartilage growth through a series of injections. The FDA still hasn’t approved it in the United States. Bynum is considering doing the program with well-known doctor German doctor Peter Wehling, who worked with Kobe Bryant and Alex Rodriguez. It is similar but not identical to the PRP procedure.

Bynum was considered one of the top centers in the league after the 2011-12 season when he averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game while being selected to his first All-Star game. Unfortunately, he did not play a single minute of the 2012-13 season as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers due to various knee injuries.

He returned to action for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season, but struggled to 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and was eventually traded to the Chicago Bulls and immediately released. He signed with the Indiana Pacers but only lasted two games before sitting out the rest of the year with knee soreness.

Obviously, he is hoping to finally fix the issue once and for all before attempting to return to the court.

Bynum's agent David Lee explained the mindset, saying, "He would be looking at in a longer-term situation. He’s still a baby. If he went to college, he’d be coming off his rookie contract at age 26," via Berman.

Considering how young the center is, there is obviously still time to have a productive career. The talent is obviously there to be an elite player in the future; it only comes down to whether he can stay healthy.

He does have people rooting for him to turn things around, like Shane Young of Hoops Habit:

If this surgery does end up being successful, the Knicks or whichever team does sign him could end up getting great value in the free agent.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.

   

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