Probably a lot of fans have forgotten the name Elton Brand, who remembers that he was once the league's top interior? Who remembers that he was the original "captain"?
Mention Of Elton Brand, you have to mention his long ape-like arms. As a big forward, Brand was not tall, and he was only 2.03 meters tall, and he had no advantage in the environment of the high inside at that time, but this did not hinder his dominance on the inside at his peak, because he had a pair of large long arms.
Back in high school, Brand was a well-known basketball genius in the United States. After graduating from high school, he successfully entered the basketball school Duke University, and in the two seasons of the NCAA, Brand was honored, was elected the NCAA Player of the Year, was selected to the First Team of the All-America Team, and won the John Woodden Award and the Naismith Award. At the 1999 NBA Draft, Brand became the first pick without suspense and was selected by the Chicago Bulls.
In the rookie season, Brand firmly sat on the team's starting line, became the core of the team's interior line, showed everyone his super basketball talent and interior dominance, and played the standard all-star interior data of "20+10" in the rookie season, and was awarded the rookie of the year with Francis.
In the second season, Brand continued to contribute steadily 20+10, sitting firmly in the league's first-line big forwards. You know, at that time in the league, the best players in the big forward position were Duncan, Weber and Garnett, but the young Brand did not lose the wind in the fight with them.
In the bulls' two seasons, although Brand's personal data is stable and excellent, the team's record is a mess, and the two seasons combined only have 32 wins, and Brand has not led the bulls out of the haze in the post-Jordan era. In 2001, the Clippers traded Naggins to Brand. Here, Brand embarked on his life as a "captain" with unlimited scenery.
In the Clippers' first season, Brand performed remarkably well, and under his leadership, the Clippers, who were at the bottom of the West the previous year, almost reached the playoffs and eventually finished ninth in the West. Captain personal data is also outstanding, averaging 18.2 points, 11.6 boards and 2.0 blocks per game.
Brand was named to the NBA All-Star Team for the first time this season. You know, in the West that year, the competition for the all-star position in the front line was fierce, Duncan, Garnett, Webb, Nowitzki, all of them were absolute big names. Of course, Brand was able to be named an All-Star thanks to O'Neal's injury, and he was selected as an All-Star off the bench.
This picture is not evoking a lot of memories
In the following seasons, the captain's interior line was full of lethality, playing a quasi-"20+10" data for consecutive years, and a proper All-Star level big forward, who performed no less than Duncan, Garnett, Nord king and so on.
In the 05/06 season, the captain ushered in the peak of his career, and the captain of that season was able to shoot suddenly, and the low singles and mid-range shots were even more invincible. On the defensive end, the captain is also a mainstay, building a tough barrier, and with his excellent offensive and defensive performance, the captain has once again been selected to the NBA All-Star team. At the end of the season, the captain averaged a career-high 24.7 points and 10+ rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.
It was also in that season that the captain made the playoffs for the first time, leading the Clippers to the playoffs as the sixth in the West, and reached the second round, fighting the Suns for 7 rounds before they were unfortunately out. The captain, who made the playoffs for the first time, remained consistent and eye-catching, averaging 25.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, making him the Clippers' undisputed absolute number one star. At the end of the season, the captain was also successfully named to the NBA Team of the Year Second Team, the only time in his career that he was in the Best Team. But at this time, Brand did not know that he might exchange a whole career of luck for this season's surprise.
Before the start of the 07/08 season, the captain, who had just reached the peak of his career, suffered a very serious injury, broke his left Achilles tendon in training, and almost missed the 2007-08 season, only making 8 appearances at the end of the season, and the team only had a record of 1 win and 7 losses. Because of this injury, the captain's peak career was briefly crossed like a meteor and began to go downhill.
In the summer of 2008, the ambitious captain joined the 76ers. But soon the captain was poured with cold water again, and in the first season of the 76ers, Brand, who had played less than 30 games, suffered another injury and was reimbursed for the season.
After returning from injury, Brand's state has not been as good as before, whether it is statistics or court dominance is no better than that year, although he has also helped the 76ers reach the playoffs and reached the second round, but it is more to play the role of the team puzzle.
In the 2012 offseason, the 76ers pardoned Brand, who then joined the Mavericks, and The once-glorious Brand also began a wandering career. In addition to the Mavericks, he played two seasons with the Hawks before returning briefly to the 76ers. In 2016, Brand announced his retirement, officially ending his career (in fact, he also announced his retirement in 2015, but later signed with the 76ers).
17 years of professional career, averaging 15.9 points, 8.5 boards and 1.7 blocks per game, 20+10 in 4 seasons, 2 All-Stars, 1 best team averaged 15.9 points, 8.5 boards and 1.7 blocks, and 20+10 in 4 seasons. But having only been named to the All-Star twice and the All-Team 2 time once, Brand's stats and honors do have some mismatch.
When it comes to the NBA having some of the worst luckiest players, Brand is definitely one of them. Brand, who just debuted, is definitely the peak of his debut, the performance is very shocking, low foot, mid-range shooting, defense, rebounding are excellent, absolutely a proper All-Star level inside line. But he encountered the most brilliant era of the big forwards, Webb, Duncan, Garnett, Nowitzki firmly in control of the position of the big forwards, followed by Stoudemire, Boozer, Marion and others to compete, which makes it difficult for Brand to come out, which is why the captain with such good data has so few all-stars and the best team.
The Western Conference forwards at the time were really talented
Of course, in addition to the abundant talent on the big forward, another reason for Brand's lack of personal honor is that the ability to lead the team is difficult to be affirmed, and even once saddled with the name of "data brush". 17 years of career, but only 5 seasons to enter the playoffs, which also includes the last year of the career with the Eagles to enter the playoffs of the two seasons, the best playoffs are only to reach the second round. So, Brand's real playoffs as the team's main player are only three seasons (Clippers in 05/06, 76ers in 10/11, and 76ers in 11/12). The only thing that really belongs to him to lead the team into the playoffs is the 05/06 season, and the captain's performance in that season has nothing to say.
But whether it is bad luck or poor team leadership, Brand's personal ability is still unquestionable. Accurate shooting and skillful low-post footsteps are beyond the reach of many interior gangsters today, and it is worth learning from many interior players. On the defensive end, Brand is also remarkable, with long arms to ensure that he can control rebounds steadily, and can well contain the opponent's attack under the basket, and has averaged 2+ blocks per game for 6 consecutive seasons.
The captain's entire career debuted with the aura of the champion, and debuted at the peak, it was not easy to play the best performance, but continuously suffered serious injuries, began to go downhill, although the captain is still ambitious, but it has long been less courageous, just like life, ups and downs, ups and downs, always full of ups and downs, it is difficult to go smoothly and smoothly.