12 People who turned their backs on the Philadelphia 76ers
By Tyler Watts
4. Andrew Bynum
The 76ers traded for Bynum at absolutely the worst time. He was an All-Star in 2012 playing next to Kobe Bryant on the Lakers. Bynum averaged 18.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks and was second-team All-NBA. The 24-year-old appeared to be on the rise, so the Sixers gave up Andre Iguodala, Moe Harkless, Nikola Vucevic, and a first-round draft pick to acquire him a four-team trade.
Bynum never played in Philadelphia. He missed the entire 2012-13 season with a knee injury and things got wilder from there. The 7’1 big man injured his knee worse bowling and left for Cleveland in free agency in the summer of 2013. Bynum played just 26 more NBA games before hanging up his sneakers in 2014 at just 26 years old.
It is difficult to blame Andrew Bynum for getting hurt, but the bowling injury and frequent headaches he caused the team were not necessary. The 7’1 big man left after one season, despite watching the Sixers pay a hefty price to acquire him. He certainly never fit in Philly and was quickly out of the NBA.
The failed Bynum trade helped spark The Process as the franchise missed the playoffs five straight years and was arguably the league’s worst team over that half-decade.