He’s currently the general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers and was a key piece to that same team during his playing days. But even before that, Elton Brand was one of the best players for the Clippers during the early 2000s.
Brand had an incredibly diverse set of offensive moves, at least inside the 3-point line. He was a face-up threat with a respectable jumper from about 15 feet. Because of his presence on the perimeter, it gave him room to drive to the hole. He was also a potent post-up threat, forcing double teams from those who tried to stop him.
As a big man, the former No. 1 overall pick out of Duke had very quick feet off the bounce, able to take one or two dribbles and blow past slower-footed defenders. Once near the rim, his 275-pound frame was of great use when it came to absorbing contact and finishing regardless.
Due to his ability to get the bucket with ease, Brand was very efficient with his shooting, clocking in at 51.4 percent from the field in seven seasons with the Clippers.
It was in Los Angeles were Brand would have his best seasons as a pro. His lowest per game scoring average with the Clippers was just 18.2 and his highest was 24.7. That would be the most he’d average over the course of his career.
Brand made his only two NBA All-Star appearances as a member of the Clippers. He currently places inside the top-five all-time in total points for the franchise. There were bigger stars who coincided with his prime, but Brand was still a nightmare for opponents to slow down for the brute force he combined with inside skills.