Andrew Bynum, left, writhes in pain following a collision with teammate Kobe Bryant in Saturday's 115-98 win at Memphis. (Mark Weber/Associated Press)Los Angeles Lakers centre Andrew Bynum will be sidelined eight to 12 weeks because of a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
Bynum, 21, initially feared he might miss the rest of the season.
The seven-footer was hurt when teammate Kobe Bryant tried to score on a driving layup and landed on Bynum's leg just five minutes into last Saturday's 115-98 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
"It changes our team and the rhythm that we're playing with," Bryant told reporters Monday. "Obviously, we found a great rhythm there with him in the lineup — particularly the last week or so — so we're going to have to make some adjustments."
If Bynum returns in eight weeks, he will have 10 games to prepare for the playoffs, which will have started should he require 12 weeks to fully recover.
"It is better news than I expected to hear because of the shot that I took," Bynum said.
Bynum is averaging 14.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocked shots, 1.5 assists and 29.1 minutes in 46 starts this season, his fourth in the NBA.
He is a 56.6 per cent shooter as a pro, averaging 8.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.1 assists and 21.4 minutes in 209 games (124 starts) since selected 10th overall by Los Angeles in the 2005 NBA draft.
"We still feel very confident of our ability to play at a high level," teammate Lamar Odom said. "It is too bad we have to do it without him because we love having him around."
Bynum missed the Lakers' final 46 games last season with a dislocated left kneecap suffered when he landed on Odom's foot in a 100-99 victory over Memphis on Jan. 13, 2007.
"It is disappointing to him because he again is starting to play, like last January, exceptionally well, [and] starting to exert his influence on the games," Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said.
"That really bothers him and it bothers us because we know that the strength of our team is the size and the defensive capabilities that we might have."
With files from the Associated Press
