Cleveland Cavaliers center Andrew Bynum is not expecting any brotherly love when he returns to Philadelphia, but he shouldn't be helping throw gasoline on the fire.
The Akron Beacon Journal reported that Bynum will suit up for the Cavaliers when they travel to Philadelphia to face the 76ers on Friday night.
The appearance will be Bynum's first in Philadelphia since he was part of the trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2012-13 season. Bynum, however, was injured all of last season and never played a minute for the Sixers while commanding a salary of nearly $17 million.
Bynum became a free agent last season and opted to sign with the Cavaliers.
He told the Beacon Journal on Wednesday that he will remain true to his plan of playing the first night of back-to-back games. Cleveland travels to Philadelphia on Friday before returning home to face the Sixers on Saturday.
But Bynum appeared to be emotionless about the situation.
"Just another game," he told the newspaper.
Bynum said he understands the anger Philadelphia fans may feel toward him but didn't seem concerned about it.
"I think they'll probably boo, but that's their choice," he said. Asked if he felt badly about the way it all unfolded in Philadelphia, he said, "It wasn't my choice to get rid of me. I don't feel bad at all. ... If I was not hurt, I would've played. That's really the end to that story."
That quote probably won't sit well with Sixers fans who probably feel that Bynum should've felt obligated to play this season in Philadelphia at a discounted rate. This is a fan base that once booed Santa Claus at a Philadelphia Eagles game.
To Bynum's credit, he is supposed to face the Philadelphia media on Thursday when the Cavaliers arrive in town to practice, the Beacon Journal reported. If he doesn't show any remorse or says something inflammatory, Sixers officials might consider extra security on Friday night.
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