Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia 76ers center Andrew Bynum will likely sit out the rest of the season after suffering another setback in his rehabilitation from a knee injury, multiple sources reported Thursday.

Bynum, who never played a single basketball game for the 76ers since the big offseason trade that involved Dwight Howard and Andre Iguodala, experienced swelling and discomfort in his knees after participating in a five-on-zero drill last week.

The 25-year old Bynum previously guaranteed the chance to play for the 76ers this season, but the latest setback obviously put a cloud of doubt on a possible comeback.

"It's getting late. I don't know [about playing this season]," Bynum said. "I don't want to play in pain. ... I'm 25, it's my life," Bynum told ESPN.

It has been a disappointing season for the 76ers, who are currently on a seven-game losing streak. The Sixers traded for Bynum with the hope of having him as one of the cornerstones of the franchise alongside blooming guards Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner.

Sixers head coach Dough Collins also expressed his frustration about the latest development, calling it a bad break for Bynum and the team.

"I know it's tough on him, he wants to play," Collins said Thursday. "We traded for him to come in here and play, and he hasn't been able to and that's hard. Hard on him and hard on everyone, and so I feel badly."

Bynum is earning $16.9 million and is set to become a free-agent after this season

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