“He got mad” – Mickel Gladness recalls blocking Andrew Bynum’s shot originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Playing in the NBA is no easy feat, as every night you could go up against all-time greats and stars who are at the top of their field. For former center Mickell Gladness, who managed to play only one season in the NBA and appear in 26 games, he used that time to test his chops against the best.
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Gladness reminisced on his NBA days with the Golden State Warriors in an exclusive chat with Basketball Network. Mickell would start in seven games and get some minutes in hopes of securing a contract, as he wanted to make every moment count.
As he was known as a prolific shot-blocker, we asked Gladness if he managed to swat any big names during that time. Mickell named one of the best big men in the league at the time, Los Angeles Laker center Andrew Bynum.
“I think Andrew Bynum, I blocked his shot once. He got mad. There were a few,” Gladness shared.
It went both ways
During the 2011-2012 season, in which this happened, Bynum was arguably the best big man in the game alongside Dwight Howard. AB would earn his first and only All-Star selection and be named to the All-NBA Second Team after averaging 18.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.
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However, Gladness never shied away from his matchups, and Andrew was no exception. He managed to swat his shot and apparently rile up the Purple & Gold big man, which was no small feat for an undrafted center trying to find his place under the NBA sun.
Funnily enough, Mickell also remembered one of his lowlights. In a clash against the San Antonio Spurs and the legendary Tim Duncan, Gladness got his shot swatted by TD. While it was embarrassing at the moment, he appreciates the experience when looking back.
“I mean, of course, you got Tim Duncan that can barely get off the floor, and he end up blocking one of my hook shots, but it was a great league. It was a great, great memories,” Mickell admitted.
The mind of a shot-blocker
While Gladness didn’t manage to carve out a long NBA career, his name has a special place in basketball’s record books. To this day, Mickell is the all-time leader for most blocks in a single game in NCAA history, swatting 16 shots in Alabama A&M’s victory over Texas Southern in 2007.
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Gladness also led the nation in blocks during his junior season, with 6.3 rejections per night, establishing himself as the most elite rim protector on the college level. Mickell shared what went into his mindset as a prideful and capable shot-blocker.
“As a shot blocker, I know people, offensive guys, they like to see their shot going in. When it goes in, it’s like the goal opens up. Me, as a shot blocker, once I get a couple blocks, especially if I don’t have any fouls, that’s the game I want. You know what I’m saying? When I start seeing guys come in the lane and then turn around or throw up a shot, really high-arching shot, and miss, that’s where I want you to be then,” the big man explained his mindset when it came to defending the rim.
While the NBA journey lasted only one season, Gladness carved out a long and great international career that took him all over the world. The experiences of going up against the likes of Bynum and Duncan only helped Mickell thrive in his own lane.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.