Lakers’ Bynum suspended five games for flagrant foul

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Los Angeles Lakers center  Andrew Bynum has been suspended for the first five games of  next season for his flagrant foul on Dallas Mavericks guard  J.J. Barea, the NBA said yesterday.

Bynum was ejected for elbowing Barea while the guard was in  mid-air with 8:21 left in Sunday’s Game Four in Dallas, where  the Lakers were routed 122-86 and swept from the playoffs.

The seven-foot center has also been fined $25,000 by the  league for removing his jersey as he exited the court.

Earlier yesterday at the Lakers’ training base in El  Segundo, Bynum issued a public apology for his behavior against  the Mavericks.

“I want to apologize for my actions,” Bynum told reporters.  “They don’t doesn’t represent me, my upbringing, this franchise  or any of the Lakers’ fans out there that want to watch us and  want us to succeed.   “More importantly, I want to apologize to J.J. Barea for  doing that. I’m just glad that he wasn’t seriously injured in  the event.

“After I saw it (on tape), it was definitely embarrassing.  It was terrible and it definitely won’t be happening again.”

Bynum will be suspended for the first five games of the  2011-12 regular season for which he is eligible and physically  able to play.