The Andrew Bynum mutiny that has been building all season in Los Angeles reached the tipping point Wednesday when he was fined by the Lakers.
According to the Lakers, Bynum was fined for "numerous infractions," that include playing music too loud in the locker room, skipping a meeting with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak to discuss his behavior and acting disrespectfully to teammates and members of the coaching staff.
Lakers head coach Mike Brown was asked if he was concerned about Bynum's behavior, he was a bit evasive in his answer, but appears to believe the matter is closed.
"No, I'm not concerned. - It's been handled internally. It's an internal matter," Brown said.
"Stuff happens. Sometimes you guys find out, sometimes you don't. Just because you guys found out about this, doesn't mean I'm going to overreact. - If something needs to be said publicly, I'll say it," Brown added.
Things started to get bad publically on March 7, after the Lakers lost back-to-back games to Washington and Detroit; after the game Bynum admitted to not giving his best efforts on the floor that night.
"I was out there kind of loafing around, having a good time," Bynum said. "It caught up."
A week later he trashed Kobe Bryant, and the way he treats teammates, in an interview with ESPN Radio Los Angeles.
"The guy wants to win so you always have issues with him if you're playing poorly or subpar," Bynum said. "Other than that I think I'm a guy who can help this team win when I go out and play dominant and not have much of an issue."
Things came to a head on March 27 when Bynum took a three-pointer with more than 15 seconds left on the shot clock, on a meaningful possession, against the Golden State Warriors.
Brown benched Bynum after the shot, the eighth of his entire career, and Bynum sulked. He refused to join team huddles for the remainder of the game.
After the game Bynum acknowledged that he was benched for shooting such an ill-advised shot, then, in the same breath, said he will do it again.
"I guess 'Don't take threes' is the message," he said. "But I'm going to take another one and I'm going to take some more, so I just hope it's not the same result. Hopefully, I make it."
Bynum is hurt now and did not play in Tuesday night's win over the New Jersey Nets, and it was unclear if he would be ready for Wednesday night's game against the Clippers.
