PORTLAND, Ore. -- Andrew Bynum might make his highly anticipated return in a home game Sunday against San Antonio, Coach Phil Jackson said.
"There's a chance," Jackson said. "It would have to be under a situation in which he could practice on Saturday in a way that would convince me to play him on Sunday. Right now, we're certainly not counting on that. It's just really a longshot."
Bynum will need to show he can move well "in traffic" at practice, Jackson said. The next morning will also be important in determining how Bynum's knee reacts to a full practice.
Bynum would come off the bench if he played Sunday and would almost surely be limited in his minutes. He has not played since suffering a bone bruise in his left knee and a brief dislocation of the kneecap Jan. 13 against Memphis.
Bynum has not gone through a full practice yet, although he has taken turns playing one-on-one against Chris Mihm and assistant coaches Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw.
Bynum is averaging 13.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots a game. He averaged 17.3 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots in six games in January before getting hurt.
The Lakers have one regular-season game after Sunday, playing host to Sacramento next Tuesday.
Either way, Jackson would like Bynum to be ready for the playoffs, especially if the Lakers draw Phoenix in the first round.
"We think that against a guy like Shaquille [O'Neal], he would be an important person to have on your team because he's got the bulk and the size to put himself out there and stop some of that bull nature that Shaq has," Jackson said.
Maybe later if I get into UPenn's medical school next year.
