Two young big men are still sizing each other up

They’re old enough to play in the NBA but still young enough to dream of the feats they’re capable of pulling off.

Andrew Bynum of the Lakers and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, at 19 and 21, respectively, are establishing themselves as future All-Star centers. In the process, they’re building a rivalry that figures to only get better as they battle one another and enhance their skills over the next decade or more.

Bynum, 7 feet, 275 pounds, has Howard by an inch and about 10 pounds. But Howard, in his third season, has one more season’s experience, and at this stage of their development, even that small difference shows.

Howard had a team-high 25 points Friday as well as 10 rebounds and two blocks, better than Bynum’s eight points, five rebounds and four blocks. But Howard couldn’t carry the Magic’s attempted fourth-quarter rally to fruition, leaving the Lakers to salvage a 109-106 victory at a sold-out but late-to-get-excited Staples Center.

Howard had a chance to tie the score at 107 with 41 seconds left but missed two free throws, among the nine he missed in the game. Kobe Bryant grabbed the rebound and brought the ball upcourt, where he was fouled by Howard and made two free throws to ensure the end of the Lakers’ two-game losing streak.

Bynum contributed a key rejection early in the fourth quarter but was in foul trouble for most of the second half and drew his fifth foul with 9:22 left in the fourth quarter.

“We had foul trouble. Andrew couldn’t stay on the floor tonight and Howard proved to be pretty awesome in there,” Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said in one of the few criticisms he offered about his team.

Howard was coming off a 30-point, 25-rebound performance against Golden State on Wednesday, only the second NBA player during the last 10 years to get 30 points and 25 rebounds in a regulation game. The most recent precedent was Lorenzen Wright’s 33-point, 26-rebound effort for Memphis on Nov. 4, 2001, against Dallas. The last Magic player to do it was some guy named Shaquille O’Neal.

Whatever happened to him?

Bynum played 18 minutes, below his average of 19.5. He’s still seeking the consistency that is the hallmark of an elite player, offering occasional glimpses of brilliance but hints of immaturity too. With his shirt tail stubbornly refusing to stay tucked into the waistband of his shorts, he still sometimes looks like a gangly kid playing against the big boys.

“Age-wise, they’re close. Strength-wise, Howard has kind of caught up,” Jackson said. Howard, he added, is “really a physical marvel. Andrew still hasn’t grown into his body.”

But he has grown enough physically and professionally to impress Howard.

“He’s a great young player already, a big body,” Howard said. “He’s a lot stronger than he was last year. I think for him, it’s just confidence. I really like his game. Seeing him in the [2005] McDonald’s game to now, he’s a totally different player.”

Howard jumped from Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy to the NBA as the first draft pick in 2004 and became the first player to start every game after going from the preps to the pros. Bynum also jumped from high school to the NBA, becoming the 10th pick overall in 2005.

But Bynum didn’t start a game until this season, when he started the opener as the third option after Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown were removed from the equation by injuries. He started the first 14 games, came off the bench in the next 17 games while he improved his work habits and his diet -- no more junk food, lots more sleep -- and returned to the starting lineup on Jan. 4 at Sacramento.

“It was a great learning experience for me,” Bynum said of facing Howard. “He’s really big and he’s pretty strong and I’ve got to get a stronger base when I go against him.”

Orlando Coach Brian Hill said that for Howard, immediately being thrust into a starting role was a product of necessity and merit.

“I wasn’t here for Dwight’s rookie year but I think obviously they felt that as the No. 1 pick, and with the team that they had, they needed to get him on the floor and develop as quickly as possible,” Hill said. “If you’re coming to a veteran team and a winning team, sometimes it’s better for that guy to sit and learn and earn his time.”

That’s obviously a theory Jackson has adopted. Jackson also acknowledged the differences between the two players.

“Andrew has size and length and he’s got the touch,” Jackson said. “Andrew will end up shooting 17- and 18-foot jump shots. Howard is the type of player who’s a power player. He doesn’t have to rely as much on his touch as his size.”

Howard, however, can’t rely on his free-throw shooting. He hit only seven of 16 Friday, costly misses for the Magic and in keeping with his 65.6% success rate he took into the game. Like Bynum, he’s quite accomplished, but both have a ways to go before they can be considered complete players. But for both players, time is on their side.

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helene.elliott@latimes.com