Elton Tyron Brand (born March 11, 1979)[1] is an American former professionalbasketball player and the general manager of thePhiladelphia 76ers of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). After playing college basketball forDuke, he was selected with thefirst overall pick in the1999 NBA draft by theChicago Bulls, and later played for thePhiladelphia 76ers, theLos Angeles Clippers,Dallas Mavericks andAtlanta Hawks. He was a two-timeNBA All Star and anAll-NBA Second Team selection in2006.
Brand attendedPeekskill High School, where he was immediately added to thevarsity basketball roster. He averaged 40 points and 20 rebounds per game, played AAU basketball with future NBA playersLamar Odom andRon Artest, and by his senior year he was consistently ranked among the top high school basketball players in the country and was selected asNew York State Mr. Basketball. At the same time, he became something of a cult hero in Peekskill, helping his team win two state championships. Recruited heavily after his successful high school career, Brand decided to enroll atDuke University alongside a cluster of other high school stars, includingShane Battier.
As a sophomore, Brand was the dominant inside presence for aDuke team that is widely regarded as one of the most talented teams in recent NCAA history. After leading theBlue Devils to the championship game of theFinal Four—where they were upset by theConnecticut Huskies—Brand was named the consensus National Player of the Year. He subsequently decided to leave Duke after his sophomore season and declared for the1999 NBA draft. Brand, sophomoreWilliam Avery, and freshmanCorey Maggette, were the first three players underMike Krzyzewski to leave early for the draft and not play the full four years at Duke.
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | Duke | 21 | 18 | 23.5 | .592 | .000 | .604 | 7.3 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 13.4 |
| 1998–99 | Duke | 39 | 37 | 29.3 | .620 | .000 | .707 | 9.8 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 17.7 |
| Career | 60 | 55 | 27.3 | .612 | .000 | .672 | 8.9 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 16.2 | |
On June 30, 1999, Brand was selected by theChicago Bulls with thefirst overall pick in the1999 NBA draft.[2] On November 19, Brand scored 29 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, and blocked 4 shots in the ninth game of his career, a 103–95 loss to theLos Angeles Lakers.[3] He was later named themost valuable player of theRookie Challenge overAll-Star Weekend. He ended the season with averages of 20.1 points and 10 rebounds per game, and he sharedNBA Rookie of the Year honors withHouston Rockets guardSteve Francis.[4] Despite his personal success,Brand and the Bulls finished with the second worst record in the league at 17–65.[5]
Through much of the2000–01 season, Brand was hailed as the linchpin of a possible new Chicago dynasty. On December 31, Brand scored a season high 31 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a 86–75 win over theNew Jersey Nets.[6] Brand averaged 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game; his 3.9 offensive rebounds per game were the second-best in the NBA. As a team however, again the Bulls struggled, finishing with an even worse record at 15–67.[7]
After two successful seasons with the Bulls, Brand was traded to theLos Angeles Clippers in June 2001 forBrian Skinner and the draft rights toTyson Chandler.[8] In 2002, Brand became the first Clipper sinceDanny Manning (in 1994) to be selected to the All-Star team.[9]
When Brand became a restricted free agent in 2003, theMiami Heat made an offer worth $82 million over six years.[10] In what was an unprecedented move by team ownerDonald Sterling, the Clippers matched Miami's offer and managed to keep Brand a Clipper.[11] Prior to this, the biggest contract Sterling had approved to that point was a five-year, $15 million deal forEric Piatkowski in 1998.[12] Sterling had also refused to offer Brand a contract extension one year prior, when he was willing to accept less than the maximum.[13]
In the2006 NBA season, Brand experienced a professional 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, their then-best record in team history, and good enough for the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Brand was selected to the2006 NBA All-Star Game and considered as a strong candidate for the 2006NBA MVP.[14] Brand led the franchise 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 thePhoenix Suns, the Clippers had the best season that their franchise had ever seen at that time. Brand received theJoe Dumars Trophy after being named the 2005–06NBA Sportsmanship Award winner.[15]
Following his stellar2005–06 season, Brand regressed somewhat in the following season. His scoring average in2006–07 dropped and the Clippers missed the playoffs.
He missed most of the2007–08 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. Brand played in only eight games that season. Brand later opted out of the final year of his contract and became afree agent. Sources indicated that Brand chose to opt out from his contract in order to provide Clippers with more payroll flexibility in hopes of strengthening their roster.[16] This came to fruition when Clippers landedGolden State Warriors starBaron Davis. Briefly, this gave Clippers' management and the media the reassurance that Brand would indeed re-sign with the team.
On July 9, 2008, Brand signed with thePhiladelphia 76ers to a reported five-year, $82 million contract.[17] Brand longed to return to the East Coast, and chose Philadelphia as it was the closest suitor to his hometown ofPeekskill, New York.[18]
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 theMilwaukee 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 on February 9.
On February 4, 2012, Brand scored a Sixers career high 33 points in a 100–98 win over theNew York Knicks. He finished his first tenure with thePhiladelphia 76ers averaging 11 points per game and just over 8 rebounds per game during the 2011–12 season. He averaged 8.6 points and 4.8 rebounds in the2012 NBA Playoffs in a total of 13 games when the Sixers lost in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to theBoston Celtics 85–75.
On July 11, 2012, Brand was released from the 76ers via theamnesty clause.[19]
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On July 13, 2012, Brand was claimed off waivers by theDallas Mavericks with a winning bid of $2.1 million. The 76ers still had to pay out the remaining balance of the $18.2 million owed to Brand this season in the final year of his contract.[20]
In 2012–13, he averaged 7.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 assists in 21.2 minutes per game. He played 72 games and started 18 of them. The Mavericks finished 41–41 and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1999–2000 season.
On July 15, 2013, Brand signed with theAtlanta Hawks.[21] On September 23, 2014, he re-signed with the Hawks[22] and changed his long-time jersey number of 42, to 7.[23] On August 11, 2015, Brand announced his retirement from professional basketball.[24]
On January 4, 2016, Brand came out of retirement to re-enter the NBA, citing thatDuke coachMike Krzyzewski helped convince him to return to play.[25] Later that day, he signed with thePhiladelphia 76ers, returning to the franchise for a second stint.[26] On January 26, he was activated for the first time, but did not play for the 76ers against thePhoenix Suns.[27] On March 4, he made his season debut for the 76ers, playing in an NBA game for the first time since May 20, 2015. In 13 minutes off the bench, he recorded eight points and four rebounds in a 112–102 loss to theMiami Heat.[28] On March 12, he recorded a 10-point game against theDetroit Pistons,[29] scoring in double digits for the first time since April 14, 2014. On March 27, he recorded a second 10-point game in a loss to theGolden State Warriors.[30] Two days later, he scored seven points and grabbed a season-high nine rebounds in a loss to theCharlotte Hornets,[31] as he became the 51st player in NBA history to reach 9,000 career rebounds.[32]
On September 7, 2016, Brand re-signed with the 76ers.[33] However, on October 20, 2016, he announced his second retirement.[34][35]
On December 6, 2016, Brand was named as the player development consultant of thePhiladelphia 76ers.[36][37] On August 28, 2017, he was named general manager of theDelaware 87ers (now Delaware Blue Coats).[38]
On September 20, 2018, Brand was promoted to general manager position of the Philadelphia 76ers.[39] During the2018-19 season, Brand traded forJimmy Butler andTobias Harris.[40]
After the Sixers lost in the conference semifinals, Brand made a series of offseason moves that many, including star centerJoel Embiid, believe have come back to haunt the team.[40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47] Brand re-signed Harris to a 5-year, $180 million contract, re-signed Simmons to a 5-year, $170 million, and signedAl Horford to a four-year, $97 million (with $12 million in bonuses) contract; meanwhile, he allowed Butler andJJ Redick to walk.[40][48][49] Harris has yet to reach an All-Star game in his career; Simmons missed the2020 playoffs, crumbled in the2021 playoffs, and refused to play for the team thereafter; and the Sixers traded Horford after only one season, in which he posted a career low in field goal percentage and his fewest points-per-game in more than a decade.[44][47] In contrast, Butler led the Miami Heat to theNBA Finals the season after leaving the Sixers, as well as in2023.[44]
In late 2020, the 76ers hiredDaryl Morey as President of Basketball Operations. Although the team simultaneously extended Brand's contract, Brand has ever since "remained mostly behind the scenes."[50][51]
Early in his career, Brand established himself as one of the top power forwards of the NBA. He holds career averages of 15.9 points, 8.5 rebounds (3.1 being offensive rebounds) and 1.7 blocks per game in 1,058 career games.[52]
Brand uses his wide body and surprising athleticism for a man his weight in order to out-muscle his opponents. A large wingspan also allows him 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.[citation needed] During the off-season prior to the 2005–06 season, he trimmed his weight to increase his quickness and added 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.
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–00 | Chicago | 81 | 80 | 37.0 | .482 | .000 | .685 | 10.0 | 1.9 | .8 | 1.6 | 20.1 |
| 2000–01 | Chicago | 74 | 74 | 39.3 | .476 | .000 | .708 | 10.1 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 20.1 |
| 2001–02 | L.A. Clippers | 80 | 80 | 37.8 | .527 | .000 | .742 | 11.6 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 18.2 |
| 2002–03 | L.A. Clippers | 62 | 61 | 39.6 | .502 | .000 | .685 | 11.3 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 18.5 |
| 2003–04 | L.A. Clippers | 69 | 68 | 38.7 | .493 | .000 | .773 | 10.3 | 3.3 | .9 | 2.2 | 20.0 |
| 2004–05 | L.A. Clippers | 81 | 81 | 37.0 | .503 | .000 | .752 | 9.5 | 2.6 | .8 | 2.1 | 20.0 |
| 2005–06 | L.A. Clippers | 79 | 79 | 39.2 | .527 | .333 | .775 | 10.0 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 24.7 |
| 2006–07 | L.A. Clippers | 80 | 80 | 38.5 | .533 | 1.000 | .761 | 9.3 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 20.5 |
| 2007–08 | L.A. Clippers | 8 | 6 | 34.3 | .456 | .000 | .787 | 8.0 | 2.0 | .4 | 1.9 | 17.6 |
| 2008–09 | Philadelphia | 29 | 23 | 31.7 | .447 | .000 | .676 | 8.8 | 1.3 | .6 | 1.6 | 13.8 |
| 2009–10 | Philadelphia | 76 | 57 | 30.2 | .480 | .000 | .738 | 6.1 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 13.1 |
| 2010–11 | Philadelphia | 81 | 81 | 34.7 | .512 | .000 | .780 | 8.3 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 15.0 |
| 2011–12 | Philadelphia | 60 | 60 | 28.9 | .494 | .000 | .733 | 7.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 11.0 |
| 2012–13 | Dallas | 72 | 18 | 21.2 | .473 | .000 | .710 | 6.0 | 1.0 | .7 | 1.3 | 7.2 |
| 2013–14 | Atlanta | 73 | 15 | 19.4 | .539 | .000 | .649 | 4.9 | 1.0 | .5 | 1.2 | 5.7 |
| 2014–15 | Atlanta | 36 | 4 | 13.5 | .442 | .000 | .522 | 2.8 | .6 | .5 | .7 | 2.7 |
| 2015–16 | Philadelphia | 17 | 1 | 13.2 | .431 | .000 | .889 | 3.7 | 1.1 | .5 | .5 | 4.1 |
| Career | 1058 | 868 | 33.0 | .500 | .095 | .736 | 8.5 | 2.1 | .9 | 1.7 | 15.9 | |
| All-Star | 2 | 0 | 18.0 | .563 | .000 | .000 | 8.5 | .5 | .5 | .5 | 9.0 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | L.A. Clippers | 12 | 12 | 43.1 | .551 | .000 | .750 | 10.3 | 4.0 | .9 | 2.6 | 25.4 |
| 2011 | Philadelphia | 5 | 5 | 37.0 | .548 | .000 | .769 | 8.4 | .6 | .4 | 1.2 | 15.6 |
| 2012 | Philadelphia | 13 | 13 | 27.4 | .465 | .000 | .625 | 4.8 | .5 | .8 | 1.5 | 8.6 |
| 2014 | Atlanta | 7 | 0 | 11.6 | .167 | .000 | .800 | 3.3 | .9 | .1 | .9 | 1.1 |
| 2015 | Atlanta | 3 | 0 | 1.3 | .000 | .000 | .500 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .3 |
| Career | 40 | 30 | 28.6 | .516 | .000 | .719 | 6.3 | 1.6 | .6 | 1.6 | 12.6 | |
Brand started theElton 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 the2006 FIBA World Basketball Championships, averaging 8.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Brand made a cameo appearance in the filmJust Wright. Brand is a founding member and president of Gibraltar Films,[53] 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 filmRescue Dawn, directed byWerner Herzog. Brand attended the film's premiere at theToronto International Film Festival.[54]
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