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 Elton Tyron Brand was born on March 11, 1979 in Peekskill, New York. Elton Brand is an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's NBA, Elton Brand was playing for the Los Angeles Clippers and the USA National Team. Elton Brand was one of the more underrated players in the league, the Clippers' recent success in the 2005-06 season has established to some extent the public's perception of Elton Brand as one of the premier power forwards in the game today.
The two-time All-Star Elton Brand plays the power forward position, despite being "just" 6 ft 8 in tall and thus usually giving up two inches and more to his direct opponent. However, Elton Brand has established himself as one of the top big wingmen of the NBA, Elton Brand was averaging 20.3 points, 10.4 rebounds (with a stellar 4.0 offensive boards) and 2.00 blocks in his career.
Elton 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 wing span also allows Brand to be a proficient shot-blocker.
In Elton Brand 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 2005-2006 season when Elton Brand became one of the best power forwards of the NBA. During the offseason prior to the 2005-2006 season, he trimmed his weight from 265 lb. down to 254 lb. in order to increase his quickness. Elton Brand 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, Elton Brand raised his scoring by 4.7 points in that season.
Elton Brand Bio in College:
As a sophomore, Elton 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. Elton Brand 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.
Elton Brand Bio in NBA:
After two successful seasons with the Bulls, during which he received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2000, Elton Brand was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2001 for Brian Skinner and the draft rights to Tyson Chandler. In Los Angeles, Elton Brand became the first Clipper since Danny Manning (in 1994) to be selected to the All-Star team. As much as Elton Brand shined through his first years in Los Angeles, however, the Clippers still remained one of the worst franchises in sports.
When Elton Brand became a restricted free agent in 2003, the Miami Heat dangled 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 Elton 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.
In the 2006 NBA season, Elton 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 Player for the 2006 season. Steve Nash went on to win the award. On April 22, 2006, Elton Brand made his playoff debut scoring 21 points against the Denver Nuggets. On May 1, Elton 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 against the Phoenix Suns, the Clippers had the best season that their franchise had ever seen. Elton Brand was the recipient of the 2006 NBA Sportsmanship Award, and a runner-up for the same award in 2005.
Elton Brand Personal Bio:
Elton Brand started the Elton Brand Foundation in the spring of 2000. His Foundation is an organization that provides support to worthy causes in Chicago, Ill., Peekskill, N.Y. and Durham, N.C.
In the summer of 2006, Elton Brand married his longtime girlfriend (and fellow Duke graduate) Shahara Simmons in North Carolina. Elton Brand also played for Team USA in the 2006 FIBA World Basketball Championships (averaging 8.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game). Elton Brand also was the producer for a Vietnam-era Prisoner of War film Rescue Dawn. Elton Brand attended the film's premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.
- Full name is Elton Tyron Brand
- Elton Brand Majors Sociology at Duke
- Started the Elton Brand Foundation in the spring of 2000 - it's an organization that provides support to worthy causes in Chicago, Peekskill, NY and Durham, NC
- Teamed with current Clippers teammate Corey Maggette to lead Duke to the 1999 NCAA Championship game
- Elton Brand Became the first Blue Devil ever to be picked #1 overall in the NBA Draft in 1999
- As a high school senior, named a McDonald's All-American after averaging 25.9 ppg, 16.2 rpg and 6.0 bpg
- Played AAU basketball with current former Bulls teammate and current Pacer, Ron Artest
- A member of the Clippers Reading All-Star Team and teams up with A Place Called Home and Children's Institute International throughout the season, reading to children and informing them of the importance of staying in school
- Brings hundreds of kids to Clippers games during the season as part of his PlayerZone, "Brands Bunch"
- Spends the holiday season toy shopping with children from Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times and Centinela Hospital.
Elton Brand Career Highlights:
- 2005-06 NBA Sportsmanship Award Winner
- Western Conference Player of the Week (1/30/06)
- Western Conference Player of the Week (12/12/05)
- November 2005 Player of the Month
- Western Conference Player of the Week (11/21/05)
- Pacific Division winner of the 2003-04 NBA Sportsmanship Award.
- Named to the 2003-04 NBA All-Interview First Team.
- Named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week (1/4/04).
- 2002 Magic Johnson Award winner
- Named to the USA Basketball 2002 Men's World Championship Team.
- Made his first career All-Star appearance (first Clipper since Danny Manning - 1994), replacing an injured Shaquille O'Neal on the 2002 Western Conference All-Star Team.\
- Ranked first in the NBA in total offensive rebounds (396) and offensive rebounds per game (5.0) in 2001-02.
- Named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week (12/9/01).
- Named to the 1999-2000 Schick All-Rookie First Team.
- Named the co-winner of the 1999-2000 Schick Rookie of the Year Award, along with Steve Francis.
- Named the MVP of the 2000 Schick Rookie Challenge, notching 16 points and 21 rebounds.
- Named the Schick Rookie of the Month for January and February 2000.
- Recorded his first career double-double, scoring 21 points and grabbing 12 boards against the Atlanta Hawks on 11/6/99.
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