Elton Brand
Encyclopedia
Elton Tyron Brand is an American professional basketball
player who currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers
of the National Basketball Association
(NBA). He was the 1st overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft
, selected by the Chicago Bulls
.
, where he was immediately added to the varsity
basketball roster. He averaged 40 points and 20 rebounds per game, played AAU basketball with future NBA players Lamar Odom
and Ron Artest
, and by his senior year he was consistently ranked among the top high school basketball players in the country and was selected as New York State Mr. Basketball
. At the same time, he became something of a cult hero in Peekskill, helping his team win two state championships while demonstrating a humble calm and an articulate intelligence. The former Governor of New York, fellow Peekskill native George Pataki
, was once asked about being the town's favorite son, and he answered that Peekskill's favorite son was not the Governor but Elton Brand. Recruited heavily after his successful high school career, Brand decided to enroll at Duke University
alongside a cluster of other high school stars, including Shane Battier
.
As a sophomore, Brand was the dominant inside presence for a Duke team that is widely regarded as one of the most talented teams in recent NCAA history. After leading the Blue Devils
to the championship game of the Final Four
—where they were upset by the University of Connecticut
—Brand was named the consensus National Player of the Year. He subsequently decided to leave Duke after his sophomore season and apply for the NBA draft, where he was selected by the Chicago Bulls
with the first pick. Brand, along with William Avery
and future teammate Corey Maggette
, was one of the first players in Duke basketball history to leave school early for the NBA Draft
. All three entered the 1999 NBA Draft
instead of returning to Duke.
of June 1999. He was selected by the Chicago Bulls
, a team that had struggled since the retirement of superstar Michael Jordan
and other key players in the 1990s. Brand quickly adapted to the challenges he faced and emerged as a calming and unifying influence on the fresh group of Bulls players. He seemed unfazed by the big players he faced, barely breaking stride from his Duke
totals as he averaged 20.1 points and 10 rebounds per game in his first year. His only frustrations came as a result of the Bulls' losing record—he had come out on the losing end of very few basketball games before coming to Chicago. In May 2000, Brand shared NBA Rookie of the Year honors with Houston Rockets
guard Steve Francis
.
Through much of the 2000–2001 season Brand was hailed as the linchpin of a possible new Chicago dynasty, as a potential successor to Michael Jordan himself. Brand duplicated his 1999–2000 points-per-game total of 20.1 and, showing equal consistency, improved his rebounds per game from 10.0 to 10.1; his 3.9 offensive rebounds per game were the second best in the NBA.
in 2001 for Brian Skinner
and the draft rights to Tyson Chandler
. In 2002, Brand became the first Clipper since Danny Manning
(in 1994) to be selected to the All-Star team.
When Brand became a restricted free agent in 2003, the Miami Heat
made an offer worth $82 million over six years. In what was an unprecedented move by team owner Donald Sterling
, the Clippers matched Miami's offer and managed to keep Brand a Clipper. Prior to this, the biggest contract Sterling had approved to that point was a five-year, $15 million deal for Eric Piatkowski
in 1998.
for the 2006 season. Steve Nash
went on to win the award. On April 22, 2006, Brand made his playoff debut
scoring 21 points against the Denver Nuggets
. On May 1, Brand helped lead the team to its first playoff series win since 1976, when the team was known as the Buffalo Braves. Although the Clippers eventually lost in game 7 of the second round (Western Conference Semifinals) against the Phoenix Suns
, the Clippers had the best season that their franchise had ever seen. Brand received the Joe Dumars
Trophy after being named the 2005–06 NBA Sportsmanship Award
winner.
He missed most of the 2007–08 NBA season due to a ruptured left Achilles' tendon. However, Brand made his return to the Clippers' lineup April 2, 2008 after being out since the end of the previous season. He contributed 19 points in his return. He only played in 8 games that season.
Brand opted out of the final year of his contract and became a free agent
. However, he said that he hoped to resign with the Clippers. He gave up the $16.4 million on the last year of his contract with the Clippers to test the free agent waters. According to ESPN, sources have reported that Brand chose to opt out from his contract in order to provide Clippers with more payroll flexibility in hopes of strengthening their roster. This came to fruition when Clippers landed Golden State Warriors
star Baron Davis
. Briefly, this gave Clippers' management and the media the reassurance that Brand would indeed resign with the team.
, a team in which Brand had previously stated to have an interest.
It was announced on February 5, 2009 that Brand would have season ending shoulder surgery for the injury he sustained on December 17, 2008. During the game that night against the Milwaukee Bucks, Brand dislocated his shoulder when he was knocked to the floor while going for a rebound. Brand had been coming off of the bench so that he could be slowly worked back into the lineup, but after over a month on the bench and only six games back during which his production was severely limited, the decision was made to go forward with the surgery. The procedure was successfully performed Monday, February 9.
Brand makes up for his lack of size like another undersized power forward, Charles Barkley
, using his wide and thick body and surprising athleticism for a man his weight in order to out-muscle his opponents. His large wingspan also allows Brand to be a proficient shot blocker.
In his first years in the league, he had a few, but effective and powerful moves underneath the basket which already made him an effective post player. It was not until the beginning of the 2005–06 season when Brand became one of the best power forwards of the NBA. During the off-season prior to the 2005–06 season, he trimmed his weight from 265 lb. down to 254 lb. in order to increase his quickness. He also worked on adding more finesse moves underneath the basket so that he could score without having to utilize power all the time. But most importantly, he worked on his shooting range and developed a dependable 18 ft. jumper. As a result, he raised his scoring by 4.7 points in that season.
In the summer of 2006, Elton married his longtime girlfriend (and fellow Duke student) Shahara Simmons in North Carolina. Brand also played for Team USA in the 2006 FIBA World Basketball Championships
, averaging 8.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Brand, alongside his business partner Steve Marlton, is founding member and president of Gibraltar Films, a company engaged in film investment, acquisition, production, and distribution of motion pictures. The first project of Gibraltar Films was the production of a Vietnam-era prisoner-of-war film Rescue Dawn
, directed by Werner Herzog
. Brand attended the film's premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.
Elton Brand practices Bikram yoga.
| align="left" | 1999–00
| align="left" | Chicago
| 81 || 80 || 37.0 || .482 || .000 || .685 || 10.0 || 1.9 || .8 || 1.6 || 20.1
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Chicago
| 74 || 74 || 39.3 || .476 || .000 || .708 || 10.1 || 3.2 || 1.0 || 1.6 || 20.1
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
| 80 || 80 || 37.8 || .527 || .000 || .742 || 11.6 || 2.4 || 1.0 || 2.0 || 18.2
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
| 62 || 61 || 39.6 || .502 || .000 || .685 || 11.3 || 2.5 || 1.1 || 2.5 || 18.5
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
| 69 || 68 || 38.7 || .493 || .000 || .773 || 10.3 || 3.3 || .9 || 2.2 || 20.0
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
| 81 || 81 || 37.0 || .503 || .000 || .752 || 9.5 || 2.6 || .8 || 2.1 || 20.0
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
| 79 || 79 || 39.2 || .527 || .333 || .775 || 10.0 || 2.6 || 1.0 || 2.5 || 24.7
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
| 80 || 80 || 38.5 || .533 || 1.000 || .761 || 9.3 || 2.9 || 1.0 || 2.2 || 20.5
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
| 8 || 6 || 34.3 || .456 || .000 || .787 || 8.0 || 2.0 || .4 || 1.9 || 17.6
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
| align="left" | Philadelphia
| 29 || 23 || 31.7 || .447 || .000 || .676 || 8.8 || 1.3 || .6 || 1.5 || 13.8
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
| align="left" | Philadelphia
| 76 || 57 || 30.2 || .480 || .000 || .738 || 6.1 || 1.4 || 1.1 || 1.0 || 13.1
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Philadelphia
| 81 || 81 || 34.7 || .512 || .000 || .780 || 8.3 || 1.5 || 1.1 || 1.3 || 15.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 800 || 770 || 36.9 || .502 || .133 || .739 || 9.6 || 2.4 || 1.0 || 1.9 || 18.8
|-
| align="left" | All-Star
| align="left" |
| 2 || 0 || 18.0 || .563 || .000 || .000 || 8.5 || .5 || .5 || .5 || 9.0
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
| 12 || 12 || 43.1 || .551 || .000 || .750 || 10.3 || 4.0 || .9 || 2.6 || 25.4
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
| align="left" | Philadelphia
| 5 || 5 || 37.0 || .548 || .000 || .769 || 8.4 || .6 || .4 || 1.2 || 15.6
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 17 || 17 || 41.3 || .551 || .000 || .753 || 9.7 || 3.0 || .8 || 2.2 || 22.5
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA). He was the 1st overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft
1999 NBA Draft
The 1999 NBA Draft was held on June 30, 1999 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. It was the first draft in which four players from the same college were picked in the first round, with Elton Brand , Trajan Langdon , Corey Maggette and William Avery being selected out of Duke University...
, selected by the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
.
Early life
At the age of thirteen, Brand enrolled in Peekskill High SchoolPeekskill High School
Peekskill High School is located at 1072 Elm St. in Peekskill, New York, and educates most of the district's ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders. The high school's current principal is Sherrill Murray-Lazurus. Students at the high school prepare for the New York State Regents Exams in...
, where he was immediately added to the varsity
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
basketball roster. He averaged 40 points and 20 rebounds per game, played AAU basketball with future NBA players Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom
Lamar Joseph Odom is an American professional basketball forward with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association.-Early life:...
and Ron Artest
Ron Artest
Metta World Peace is an American professional basketball player and rapper who is currently with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. World Peace gained a reputation as one of the league's premier defenders as he won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2004...
, and by his senior year he was consistently ranked among the top high school basketball players in the country and was selected as New York State Mr. Basketball
New York Mr. Basketball Award
The Mr. New York Basketball award is presented annually to a high school senior by the Basketball Coaches Association of New York, which includes scholastic and collegiate coaches from across the state.-Award winners:-Awards by school:...
. At the same time, he became something of a cult hero in Peekskill, helping his team win two state championships while demonstrating a humble calm and an articulate intelligence. The former Governor of New York, fellow Peekskill native George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
, was once asked about being the town's favorite son, and he answered that Peekskill's favorite son was not the Governor but Elton Brand. Recruited heavily after his successful high school career, Brand decided to enroll at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
alongside a cluster of other high school stars, including Shane Battier
Shane Battier
Shane Courtney Battier is an American professional basketball player . He most recently played with the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association. He has also been a member of the U.S...
.
College
Duke Blue Devils
Duke University's 26 varsity sports teams, known as the Blue Devils, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The name comes from the French "les Diables Bleus" or "the Blue Devils," which was the nickname given during World War I to the Chasseurs Alpins, the French Alpine light infantry...
to the championship game of the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
—where they were upset by the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
—Brand was named the consensus National Player of the Year. He subsequently decided to leave Duke after his sophomore season and apply for the NBA draft, where he was selected by the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
with the first pick. Brand, along with William Avery
William Avery (basketball)
William "Will" Franklin Avery Jr. is an American professional basketball player.-NBA:Avery, a 6 ft 2 ¾ in point guard from Duke University, was selected 14th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1999 NBA Draft after his sophomore year, when he became one of the first players...
and future teammate Corey Maggette
Corey Maggette
Corey Antoine Maggette is an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association, for the Charlotte Bobcats. He excelled at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois, where he was an All-American in basketball and also an Illinois high school state track finalist in long...
, was one of the first players in Duke basketball history to leave school early for the NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
. All three entered the 1999 NBA Draft
1999 NBA Draft
The 1999 NBA Draft was held on June 30, 1999 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. It was the first draft in which four players from the same college were picked in the first round, with Elton Brand , Trajan Langdon , Corey Maggette and William Avery being selected out of Duke University...
instead of returning to Duke.
Chicago Bulls (1999-2001)
Brand was the number one pick in the NBA draft1999 NBA Draft
The 1999 NBA Draft was held on June 30, 1999 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. It was the first draft in which four players from the same college were picked in the first round, with Elton Brand , Trajan Langdon , Corey Maggette and William Avery being selected out of Duke University...
of June 1999. He was selected by the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, a team that had struggled since the retirement of superstar Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
and other key players in the 1990s. Brand quickly adapted to the challenges he faced and emerged as a calming and unifying influence on the fresh group of Bulls players. He seemed unfazed by the big players he faced, barely breaking stride from his Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
totals as he averaged 20.1 points and 10 rebounds per game in his first year. His only frustrations came as a result of the Bulls' losing record—he had come out on the losing end of very few basketball games before coming to Chicago. In May 2000, Brand shared NBA Rookie of the Year honors with Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
guard Steve Francis
Steve Francis
Steven D'Shawn Francis is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association. He had also played for the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and New York Knicks...
.
Through much of the 2000–2001 season Brand was hailed as the linchpin of a possible new Chicago dynasty, as a potential successor to Michael Jordan himself. Brand duplicated his 1999–2000 points-per-game total of 20.1 and, showing equal consistency, improved his rebounds per game from 10.0 to 10.1; his 3.9 offensive rebounds per game were the second best in the NBA.
Beginnings in L.A.
After two successful seasons with the Bulls, Brand was traded to the Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in 2001 for Brian Skinner
Brian Skinner
Brian Skinner is an American professional basketball player. A 6'9", 265 lb forward-center from Baylor University, Skinner was selected by the Clippers in the first round of the 1998 NBA Draft...
and the draft rights to Tyson Chandler
Tyson Chandler
Tyson Cleotis Chandler is an American professional basketball center who most recently played for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. He was also a member of the United States men's national basketball team.-High school:...
. In 2002, Brand became the first Clipper since Danny Manning
Danny Manning
Daniel Ricardo "Danny" Manning is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. He is an assistant basketball coach at his alma mater, the University of Kansas Jayhawks. Manning won the National Championship with the Jayhawks in 1988 as a player, and...
(in 1994) to be selected to the All-Star team.
When Brand became a restricted free agent in 2003, the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
made an offer worth $82 million over six years. In what was an unprecedented move by team owner Donald Sterling
Donald Sterling
Donald T. Sterling is an American real estate mogul, attorney, and the owner of the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers. Sterling acquired the Clippers in 1981 for $12.5 million, and as of the 2008 rankings, the team is valued at $297 million by Forbes magazine, ranking them...
, the Clippers matched Miami's offer and managed to keep Brand a Clipper. Prior to this, the biggest contract Sterling had approved to that point was a five-year, $15 million deal for Eric Piatkowski
Eric Piatkowski
Eric Todd Piatkowski is a former American professional basketball player. He most recently played for the National Basketball Association's Phoenix Suns. He is the son of former ABA player Walt Piatkowski.-High school career:...
in 1998.
Redemption Year
In the 2006 NBA season, Brand experienced a personal renaissance. He posted career-highs in points per game (24.7) and field-goal percentage (52.7), while leading the Clippers to a 47–35 record, good enough for the sixth seed in the Western Conference. In February 2006, Brand was selected to the 2006 NBA All-Star Game as a reserve forward for the West. As a result of his individual prowess and the Clippers' recent success, many analysts believed that he was a strong candidate for Most Valuable PlayerMost Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
for the 2006 season. Steve Nash
Steve Nash
Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC is a South African-born Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association . Nash enjoyed a successful high-school basketball career, and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara...
went on to win the award. On April 22, 2006, Brand made his playoff debut
2006 NBA Playoffs
The 2006 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The Miami Heat won the first championship in the history of the franchise by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals...
scoring 21 points against the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
. On May 1, Brand helped lead the team to its first playoff series win since 1976, when the team was known as the Buffalo Braves. Although the Clippers eventually lost in game 7 of the second round (Western Conference Semifinals) against the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
, the Clippers had the best season that their franchise had ever seen. Brand received the Joe Dumars
Joe Dumars
Joe Dumars III , nicknamed Joe D, is a retired American basketball player in the NBA, and currently the Detroit Pistons' President of Basketball Operations....
Trophy after being named the 2005–06 NBA Sportsmanship Award
NBA Sportsmanship Award
The National Basketball Association's Sportsmanship Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1995–96 NBA season, to the player who most "exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court—ethical behavior, fair play and integrity"...
winner.
Frustration in L.A.
Following his stellar 05–06 season, Brand regressed somewhat in the following season. His point average in 2006–07 dropped and the Clippers missed the playoffs.He missed most of the 2007–08 NBA season due to a ruptured left Achilles' tendon. However, Brand made his return to the Clippers' lineup April 2, 2008 after being out since the end of the previous season. He contributed 19 points in his return. He only played in 8 games that season.
Brand opted out of the final year of his contract and became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. However, he said that he hoped to resign with the Clippers. He gave up the $16.4 million on the last year of his contract with the Clippers to test the free agent waters. According to ESPN, sources have reported that Brand chose to opt out from his contract in order to provide Clippers with more payroll flexibility in hopes of strengthening their roster. This came to fruition when Clippers landed Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
star Baron Davis
Baron Davis
Baron Walter Louis Davis is an American professional basketball player with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. Drafted as the third pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, Davis was a star at Crossroads School and UCLA....
. Briefly, this gave Clippers' management and the media the reassurance that Brand would indeed resign with the team.
Philadelphia 76ers (2008-present)
On July 9, 2008, Brand signed a five-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
, a team in which Brand had previously stated to have an interest.
It was announced on February 5, 2009 that Brand would have season ending shoulder surgery for the injury he sustained on December 17, 2008. During the game that night against the Milwaukee Bucks, Brand dislocated his shoulder when he was knocked to the floor while going for a rebound. Brand had been coming off of the bench so that he could be slowly worked back into the lineup, but after over a month on the bench and only six games back during which his production was severely limited, the decision was made to go forward with the surgery. The procedure was successfully performed Monday, February 9.
Career transactions
- June 30, 1999: Drafted 1st overall by Chicago BullsChicago BullsThe Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
in 1999 NBA Draft1999 NBA DraftThe 1999 NBA Draft was held on June 30, 1999 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. It was the first draft in which four players from the same college were picked in the first round, with Elton Brand , Trajan Langdon , Corey Maggette and William Avery being selected out of Duke University...
. - June 27, 2001: Traded by Chicago to the Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles ClippersThe Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
for Brian SkinnerBrian SkinnerBrian Skinner is an American professional basketball player. A 6'9", 265 lb forward-center from Baylor University, Skinner was selected by the Clippers in the first round of the 1998 NBA Draft...
and the draft rights to second pick Tyson ChandlerTyson ChandlerTyson Cleotis Chandler is an American professional basketball center who most recently played for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. He was also a member of the United States men's national basketball team.-High school:...
. - July 9, 2008: Signed as a free agent by Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ersThe Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
.
Player profile
The two-time All-Star Brand plays the power forward position, despite being only 6 ft 9 in height and thus usually giving up two inches or more to his direct opponent. However, Brand has established himself as one of the top big power forwards of the NBA, averaging 18.8 points, 9.6 rebounds (3.6 being offensive rebounds) and 1.9 blocks in his career (as of the end of the 2010-11 season).Brand makes up for his lack of size like another undersized power forward, Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley
Charles Wade Barkley is a former American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Sir Charles" and "The Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's most dominating power forwards...
, using his wide and thick body and surprising athleticism for a man his weight in order to out-muscle his opponents. His large wingspan also allows Brand to be a proficient shot blocker.
In his first years in the league, he had a few, but effective and powerful moves underneath the basket which already made him an effective post player. It was not until the beginning of the 2005–06 season when Brand became one of the best power forwards of the NBA. During the off-season prior to the 2005–06 season, he trimmed his weight from 265 lb. down to 254 lb. in order to increase his quickness. He also worked on adding more finesse moves underneath the basket so that he could score without having to utilize power all the time. But most importantly, he worked on his shooting range and developed a dependable 18 ft. jumper. As a result, he raised his scoring by 4.7 points in that season.
Accomplishments
- 2× NBA All-Star: 2002, 2006
- All-NBA:
- Second Team: 2006
- NBA All-Rookie First Team: 2000
- NBA co-Rookie of the Year: 2000 (with Steve FrancisSteve FrancisSteven D'Shawn Francis is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association. He had also played for the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and New York Knicks...
) - 2× NBA regular-season leader, offensive rebounds: 2000 (348), 2002 (396)
- Clippers' Career Leader in Offensive Rebounds (1,480).
Personal life
Elton started the Elton Brand Foundation in the spring of 2000. His foundation is an organization that provides support to worthy causes in Chicago, Illinois; Peekskill, New York; and Durham, North Carolina.In the summer of 2006, Elton married his longtime girlfriend (and fellow Duke student) Shahara Simmons in North Carolina. Brand also played for Team USA in the 2006 FIBA World Basketball Championships
FIBA World Championship
The FIBA World Championship is an international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation , the sport's global governing body...
, averaging 8.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Brand, alongside his business partner Steve Marlton, is founding member and president of Gibraltar Films, a company engaged in film investment, acquisition, production, and distribution of motion pictures. The first project of Gibraltar Films was the production of a Vietnam-era prisoner-of-war film Rescue Dawn
Rescue Dawn
Rescue Dawn is a 2007 war drama film directed by Werner Herzog, based on an adapted screenplay written from his acclaimed 1997 documentary, Little Dieter Needs to Fly...
, directed by Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog Stipetić , known as Werner Herzog, is a German film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and opera director.He is often considered as one of the greatest figures of the New German Cinema, along with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta, Volker Schlöndorff, Werner...
. Brand attended the film's premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.
Elton Brand practices Bikram yoga.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 1999–00
| align="left" | Chicago
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
| 81 || 80 || 37.0 || .482 || .000 || .685 || 10.0 || 1.9 || .8 || 1.6 || 20.1
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Chicago
| 74 || 74 || 39.3 || .476 || .000 || .708 || 10.1 || 3.2 || 1.0 || 1.6 || 20.1
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 80 || 80 || 37.8 || .527 || .000 || .742 || 11.6 || 2.4 || 1.0 || 2.0 || 18.2
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
| 62 || 61 || 39.6 || .502 || .000 || .685 || 11.3 || 2.5 || 1.1 || 2.5 || 18.5
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
| 69 || 68 || 38.7 || .493 || .000 || .773 || 10.3 || 3.3 || .9 || 2.2 || 20.0
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
| 81 || 81 || 37.0 || .503 || .000 || .752 || 9.5 || 2.6 || .8 || 2.1 || 20.0
|-
| align="left" | 2005–06
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
| 79 || 79 || 39.2 || .527 || .333 || .775 || 10.0 || 2.6 || 1.0 || 2.5 || 24.7
|-
| align="left" | 2006–07
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
| 80 || 80 || 38.5 || .533 || 1.000 || .761 || 9.3 || 2.9 || 1.0 || 2.2 || 20.5
|-
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
| 8 || 6 || 34.3 || .456 || .000 || .787 || 8.0 || 2.0 || .4 || 1.9 || 17.6
|-
| align="left" | 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| align="left" | Philadelphia
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
| 29 || 23 || 31.7 || .447 || .000 || .676 || 8.8 || 1.3 || .6 || 1.5 || 13.8
|-
| align="left" | 2009–10
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
| align="left" | Philadelphia
| 76 || 57 || 30.2 || .480 || .000 || .738 || 6.1 || 1.4 || 1.1 || 1.0 || 13.1
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
| align="left" | Philadelphia
| 81 || 81 || 34.7 || .512 || .000 || .780 || 8.3 || 1.5 || 1.1 || 1.3 || 15.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 800 || 770 || 36.9 || .502 || .133 || .739 || 9.6 || 2.4 || 1.0 || 1.9 || 18.8
|-
| align="left" | All-Star
| align="left" |
| 2 || 0 || 18.0 || .563 || .000 || .000 || 8.5 || .5 || .5 || .5 || 9.0
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 2005–06
2006 NBA Playoffs
The 2006 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The Miami Heat won the first championship in the history of the franchise by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals...
| align="left" | L.A. Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 12 || 12 || 43.1 || .551 || .000 || .750 || 10.3 || 4.0 || .9 || 2.6 || 25.4
|-
| align="left" | 2010–11
2011 NBA Playoffs
The 2011 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2010–11 season. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs, all seeded 1 to 8 in a tournament bracket, with all rounds in a best-of-seven format. The 2011 NBA Playoffs began on...
| align="left" | Philadelphia
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
| 5 || 5 || 37.0 || .548 || .000 || .769 || 8.4 || .6 || .4 || 1.2 || 15.6
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 17 || 17 || 41.3 || .551 || .000 || .753 || 9.7 || 3.0 || .8 || 2.2 || 22.5