Andrew Bynum’s debut with the Sixers may not come until 2013.

Bynum, 76ers’ 7-foot center, will miss at least five more weeks because of a bone bruise in his right knee and may be held out until early Jan.

When Bynum was hurt in mid-September, the team initially was hoping its newly-acquired star would be ready for the season opener Oct. 31. Late last month, though, the Sixers said he was out indefinitely.

Sixers said that the new goal was for Bynum to resume ”normal basketball activity” around December 10. He would then need 1-4 weeks of conditioning and practice before he will play in his 1st game for the Philadelphia 76ers.

”It’s better than when it started, it’s just not quite there yet,” he revealed. ”It’s not where I want it to be.”

Bynum was allowed to start reduced impact exercise after an MRI last week and he did everything from swimming to biking to stay in shape.

The Sixers acquire Bynum from the Lakers in a 4-team deal that saw them ship Andre Iguodala to Denver, but he has still to even practice with them this season.

”We know that Philadelphia fans are excited to see Andrew Bynum play and shine in a 76ers uniform,” Sixers GM Tony DiLeo expounded. ”We also know that nobody is more excited to see Andrew play for the Philadelphia 76ers than Andrew personally. He fully realizes the key contribution he will make to the team. Hopefully, that day is coming soon.”

Bynum, 25, is in the last year of his contract and could sign a 5-year agreement worth more than $100 million in the offseason, if he’s healthy.

Bynum claimed his uncertain contract status wasn’t playing a role in the decision to rest till he’s prepared to go out and dominate. But Bynum stated that he could play thru the bone bruise had the Sixers been in a playoff series.

”As far as improving, I think this is the way I have to handle it,” he revealed. ”It’s tough. I’d like to get out there, I want to play. It’s just a roller-coaster. Obviously, missing games isn’t good. I want to be out there, I want to be there with my teammates.”

Without Bynum, the Sixers took a 3-game lucky streak into Monday’s game against Milwaukee Bucks.

Bynum has had surgery on both knees. In September, he went to Germany for the well-liked Orthokine blood-spinning treatment that presumably stimulates healing in arthritis-affected areas in both of his knees.

The Philadelphia 76ers announced before training camp that Bynum wanted to delay his return to allow the effects of the Orthokine treatment to work. Basketball betting lines

Bynum won 2 NBA titles in 7 seasons with the Lakers and called their coaching carousel ”crazy.” The Lakers fired Mike Brown 5 games into the season, flirted with Phil Jackson then employed former N.Y Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni late Sunday night.

”It’s tough,” Bynum claimed. ”You’ve got that caliber team; it is a shame what happened. I think he’ll be back around.”