Bynum, Farmar picked
 

BOSTON — Andrew Bynum was touched. Really. Somewhere deep in his mind, maybe?

The Lakers' second-year center was selected to play in the NBA's annual rookie-sophomore game, as was Lakers rookie guard Jordan Farmar, but Bynum didn't demonstrate much exuberance. Maybe his sights are set on something a little grander at future All-Star weekends.

"It doesn't mean that much to me," he said. "I was happy about it, it's a great feat for a young player to be able to go experience the All-Star game [weekend] and stuff like that, but it doesn't really mean that much. The big All-Star game is the one that means anything. I hope to do one of those in the future."

The game pits rookies against second-year players Feb. 16 in Las Vegas, two days before the All-Star game. Nine players on each team were selected in a vote by the league's assistant coaches.

Bynum, 19, is averaging 7.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots as one of the league's top young centers. He has started 29 games this season and helped create a presence in the middle for the Lakers, his potential looking limitless at times. Thus, the concept of playing two days before the bigger game doesn't entirely enthrall him.

"It's nice, it's an accolade, it's a nice thing to have on your resume, but it's only rookies and sophomores," he said. "There's still 400 other players in the league."

Jordan Farmar, the 26th pick in last year's draft, had actually debated with teammates whether he would make the rookie team. The normally confident Farmar didn't think he would be selected.

"I've been telling everybody I wasn't going to make it," he said. "They've been telling me that I was. I had to admit that I was wrong."

Jordan Farmar, 20, has averaged 5.8 points and 2.2 assists in 16.6 minutes a game, but he said he could be "more solid, more consistent, more aggressive."

"It's tough going out there for a few minutes every game and expecting to have your best effort in those few minutes all the time," he said. "I've been fortunate my whole career pretty much to be able to play and get in a lather and feel the game out and pick my points where I wanted to be aggressive and make some good things happen. I'm still learning that in this role, where I can be the most effective and help this team the most … and hopefully can pick up the pace the second half of the season."

A fairly important figure, however, was pleased Bynum and Farmar were selected.

"It says something," Coach Phil Jackson said. "We've got some young players that are prospects and recognized by some of the other people in the league."

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