Could Bynum be the next Robert Parish?
Posted by: lakeshowsd on May 14, 2012 - 03:00 AM
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As a student of NBA history, I've examined some of the All-Time Great Hall of Fame (and future Hall of Fame) 7 footers and looked to see how Andrew Bynum could one day measure up to them before his career is all said and done. I'll admit that most Laker fans have firmly concluded that Bynum won't ever reach the pinnacles of legendary dominance reserved for the Shaquille O'Neals, Wilt Chamberlains, Kareem Abdul-Jabbars, Hakeem Olajuwons, Tim Duncans, and a few other All-Time great, legendary 7 footers. Those guys are simply in a league above Bynum at this point, and that may very well remain true for the remainder of Bynum's career.
So that leaves the question, what levels of greatness can Bynum aspire to reach? What Hall of Fame center can Bynum one day measure up to as Drew looks to carve his own little niche in the annals of NBA lore? The answer? Legendary Celtic center Robert Parish.
If we just go by the career numbers, Bynum already matches up favorably with the legend Parish, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003. Parish and Bynum are very close in many areas, including career field goal percentage, free throw percentage, steals, blocks, and assists. Naturally, Bynum can close the gap in career scoring and career rebounding averages as he continues to have All-Star caliber seasons in the future, but even now they compare favorably in a lot of ways. Naturally Bynum will have to remain healthy for the vast majority of his prime years in order to truly close the statistical gaps that separate him from Parish, but it's certainly a VERY attainable and realistic goal.
Now that I've mentioned their statistical similarities, I understand that there are some very dramatic difference between Parish and Bynum. For example, Parish was 50 pounds lighter than Bynum, and as a result it was easier for Parish to get up and down the floor during fast breaks and transition defense; things that Bynum still struggles with on a regular basis. Parish was also a very good outside shooter and a very consistently good free throw shooter, which are rarities for NBA centers.
Bynum has shown the aptitude to be a proficient jump shooter from 15 to 20 feet on the rare occasion he opts to take those shots, and Bynum has even expressed a desire to expand his shooting range to the 3 point line. It's not inconceivable that Bynum could one day have the same reputation that Parish did as a reliable outside shooter. As for the free Throws, Drew is already right there with Parish, shooting very close to 70% on his career. Despite his slow start from the foul line this year, it seems like we can now trust Drew on most nights to convert his free throws at a high rate. Just look at the most recent game 7 VS Denver, where Drew was 8 of 11 from the free throw line, scoring half his points at the stripe, and converting his free throws at a 72% clip. Drew is shooting 73% from the foul line in the playoffs thus far, which is a proud mark for any NBA player, and outright AMAZING for a 7 foot center. Parish also did that kind of stuff all the time if his own career free throw shooting numbers are any clue.
Lastly, one thing I find most interesting about Bynum and Parish is that both of them played a significant part of their careers as part of a 1-2-3 punch combination that featured 2 gifted post scorers, and a dominant perimeter scorer. I just think that's a very interesting coincidence and it's become even more interesting as Bynum has shaken his injury troubled past, and continued his upward level of development to All-Star levels this season.
So now that we've discussed some of the similarities and differences between Parish and Bynum, I'll leave it up to you guys to discuss and debate whether you feel that Bynum can VERY realistically one day measure up to an All-Time Great center like Robert Parish. The kinds of stats Drew put up this year (18 points, 11 rebounds, 1.9 blocks) are the same kinds of numbers Parish put up during the prime years of his career. Drew just needs to do that for another 6 to 8 years and after his career has ended, he'll be right there in the discussion with Robert Parish as a legit Hall of Famer. With those consistent numbers, and multiple strong post-season performances, Drew might even get a chance to earn a spot for his jersey in Staples center next to Chamberlain, Jabbar, Mikan, and the other All-Time great Laker centers one day.
I firmly believe that Bynum can still be one of 2 or 3 centerpiece players needed to build another Laker Dynasty in the post-Kobe years. The real trick will be finding a successor to Bryant and Gasol after they call it a career and take their final exit from the stage to join the other Laker legends of years past.
So in closing, I'll be the first one to admit that Bynum may very well never be the next Shaq, the next Wilt, or the next Kareem, but greatness may yet still be in his future; because with continued luck in terms of his health, I think Bynum could at the very least be the next Robert Parish. And that would be quite an accomplishment indeed.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/parisro01.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bynuman01.html
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