Sixers: Bynum Won’t Practice Before December

The Philadelphia 76ers issued a statement Monday morning with an injury update on center Andrew Bynum, who was acquired in an offseason trade but has yet to play.

Bynum has been out with a bone bruise to his right knee suffered in mid-September.

It now appears the team's new center – acquired via four-way deal in which the 76ers gave up Andre Iguodala – won't practice before December, and it could be January before he takes the court in a game.

The statement begins, "The Philadelphia 76ers continue to be cautious in projecting an on-court date for the return of Andrew Bynum, and are carefully listening to the team of medical professionals who are closely monitoring the healing of Bynum's knee."

Two prior reviews by doctors have each pushed Bynum's return date back by four weeks.

This time, after a fresh MRI and check-up by Bynum's "longtime personal doctor," the team has been told he could return to basketball activities in three weeks. He can resume low-impact exercise for two weeks, then work on an anti-gravity treadmill for three weeks.

"The doctors and the team will be closely watching how Bynum's knee responds during this five week regimen. Upon successful completion, Bynum is expected to be able to resume normal basketball activity," the team's statement reads.

That puts the return date at Dec. 10, and the Sixers estimate he'll need another one to four weeks after that for conditioning, training and practice "before being able to resume game play with significant minutes," the team says.