Sixers Notes: Andrew Bynum ramps up workouts but experiences pain

The good news for Andrew Bynum and the 76ers is that he incorporated full-speed sprints into his workouts.

The bad news is that he was in pain.

Bynum spent Saturday and Sunday working out harder than he has at any point during his recovery from bone bruises to both knees and cartilage damage in his left knee.

"I got a lot of pain so we backed down a little today," Bynum said.

Pain has always accompanied Bynum, who has ramped up his workouts in recent weeks. But on Monday he acknowledged that the pain might be the type that he will simply have to endure if he is going to return.

"I don't know if it's normal soreness or if I'm going to have to play with it. I don't know what it is," Bynum, said. "It's not anything that I haven't felt, so it's not new. It continues to go away over time, so it's all good stuff. No swelling, nope. I'm able to go again the next day."

About a month ago, Bynum said he expected to play his first game for the Sixers after the all-star break. Their first game after the break, which begins Thursday, is Feb. 20 at Minnesota. The Sixers will play 31 games after the all-star break. Bynum will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Sixers shooting guard Jason Richardson will have season-ending surgery on his left knee Thursday in New York.

Richardson, 32, has missed the last 10 games. He saw four doctors before opting for surgery to repair torn cartilage.

"It's crucial to get it done because I'm an older player," Richardson said. "The younger Jason Richardson would just say, 'Hey, let's do whatever it takes to get back on the floor.' But I'm an older player now and the league is getting younger and younger. I want to take every precaution to get back on the floor and continue my career."

Richardson said he would be using crutches for at least six weeks after surgery.