Former 76ers center set to face former team on Friday.
Cleveland Cavaliers star Andrew Bynum has admitted that he still considers retirement as his knee problems continue to frustrate him.
The 26-year-old missed the entire season last year with the Philadelphia 76ers, and expects a backlash on his return to the franchise on Friday night.
The 76ers dealt a major trade to land him and planned to build around him as they looked toward future success, but that plan was quashed after just one year.
While Bynum has now been able to feature for the Cavaliers this season, he still admits that he is suffering from pain in his knees and questions whether or not he still enjoys the game.
“Retirement was a thought, it was a serious thought. It still is,” he said as reported by ESPN.
“It’s tough to enjoy the game because of how limited I am physically. I’m working through that. Every now and again I do [think about retirement]. …It’s still career-threatening. I’m a shell of myself on the court right now. I’m just struggling mentally.”
Bynum has played in four games so far this year, averaging 5.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 13 minutes per game, and impressed with 10 points and three blocked shots against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.
However, while the Cavs are being careful with restricting his minutes and his practice schedule, the former Los Angeles Lakers ace is still struggling with sharp pains and soreness after games which in turn have cast doubt over his future in the NBA.
Given the perception that he didn’t try particularly hard to return from injury last year, he has acknowledged that the Philadelphia fans will give him a hostile reception, but concedes that there isn’t much he could have done considering the extent of his injuries.
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