Georgia Tech Alumni: Will Bynum – A Roundball Roller Coaster Ride
By Nate Miller
As most Yellow Jackets’ fans already know, former Georgia Tech guard Will Bynum (2003-05) provided one of the most memorable moments on the basketball court in school history.
Back during Georgia Tech’s run to the 2004 NCAA National Championship Game, it was Bynum that made the buzzer-beating layup with just 1.5 seconds remaining on the clock to defeat Oklahoma State in the Final Four.
Following his final season at Georgia Tech, Bynum’s career in the professional basketball ranks has been quite a roller coaster ride. He was named NBA D-League Rookie of the Year in 2006 and then went on to play the last month of the ‘05-06 season with the Golden State Warriors (3.6 points, 1.3 assists in 15 games).
In September of 2006, Bynum made his way overseas for the first time in his hoops career, signing with Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv. After averaging double-digit points per game over two years for Maccabi, the then 25 year old guard would return to the States to make a name for himself in the NBA for the first time.
Oct 22, 2013; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons point guard Will Bynum (12) drives past Washington Wizards point guard John Wall (2) during the third quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons won 99-96. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Bynum impressed the Detroit Pistons’ staff in five games during the 2008 NBA Summer League, so much so that the team officially signed him on July 30th. For the next six years, he called the Motor City home. Over that stretch, Bynum played a total of 338 games for the Pistons, averaging 8.4 points, 3.4 assists and nearly 19 minutes per contest.
On October 17th, 2014, the Pistons dealt Bynum to the Boston Celtics in exchange for big man Joel Anthony. Just 10 days later, the Celtics waived the veteran, leading him to another departure from U.S. soil upon his signing with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association.
Since early December, Bynum has been nothing short of outstanding in China. Across 26 games in Guangdong, he has put up 22.5 points, 7.5 assists, 2.3 treys and 1.5 steals. The Tigers are currently getting set to play in the semifinals of the CBA Playoffs. Obviously, Bynum has been pivotal to the squad’s success.
Whether it be for a sparkplug mentality off the bench or an innate ability to come through in the clutch, one thing is for certain, Will “The Thrill” Bynum holds a well-deserved place in Georgia Tech history and will not soon be forgotten by the Ramblin’ Wreck faithful.