Elton Brand

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

After two successful seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Brand was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in June 2001 for Brian Skinner and the draft rights to Tyson Chandler. When Brand became a restricted free agent in 2003, the Miami Heat made an offer worth $82 million over six years. In an unprecedented move by team owner Donald Sterling, the Clippers matched Miami's offer and kept Brand a Clipper—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, Brand posted career-highs in points per game (24.7) and field-goal percentage (52.7), leading the Clippers to a 47–35 record, their then-best record in team history. He was selected to the 2006 NBA All-Star Game and considered as a strong candidate for the 2006 NBA MVP. Although the Clippers eventually lost in Game 7 of the second round against the Phoenix Suns, Brand received the Joe Dumars Trophy after being named the 2005–06 NBA Sportsmanship Award winner. He missed most of the 2007–08 season due to a ruptured left Achilles tendon, playing in only eight games. Brand later opted out of the final year of his contract to provide the Clippers with more payroll flexibility, which came to fruition when the Clippers landed Golden State Warriors star Baron Davis.

In Their Own Story

The 2006 NBA season saw Brand experience 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 the 2006 NBA All-Star Game and considered as a strong candidate for the 2006 NBA MVP. 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 the Phoenix Suns, the Clippers had the best season that their franchise had ever seen at that time. Brand received the Joe Dumars Trophy after being named the 2005–06 NBA Sportsmanship Award winner.

Reader's Guide

The Clippers' home court during Brand's tenure was the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Brand became the first Clipper since Danny Manning (in 1994) to be selected to the All-Star team in 2002. The fanbase during this period saw the team achieve its best season in franchise history at that time, with a 47–35 record in 2006. Brand's leadership helped shift the team's identity from a struggling franchise to a competitive playoff contender. In LA sports culture, Brand represents the bridge between the franchise's obscure past and its modern competitive identity, proving that loyalty and hard work could eventually win over a skeptical market.

Did You Know?

• Brand was the first Clipper since Danny Manning (in 1994) to be selected to the All-Star team, earning the honor in 2002.
• In 2006, Brand led the Clippers to their first playoff series win since 1976, when the team was known as the Buffalo Braves.
• Brand received the Joe Dumars Trophy after being named the 2005–06 NBA Sportsmanship Award winner.
• When Brand became a restricted free agent in 2003, the Miami Heat made an offer worth $82 million over six years, and the Clippers matched it—the biggest contract owner Donald Sterling had approved to that point.
• Brand missed most of the 2007–08 season due to a ruptured left Achilles tendon, playing in only eight games.