Elton Brand has been a serviceable NBA big man throughout his 16 seasons in the league. While he might have never lived up to the hype he had coming out of Duke University in 1999. He was the first overall pick in the ’99 draft by the Chicago Bulls, the first pick the by team rebuilding during the post-Michael Jordan era.
Brand played just 36 games for the Hawks last season and his role diminished even further during the playoffs, getting just four minutes through the teams run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Now that his career has gone through many twists and turns while playing with a few teams in the Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks and Hawks, it now appears Brand may be ending his career.
Unless, something works out in his favor.
Following from Al Coqueran of ‘The Examiner’.
However, as the children enjoyed and appreciated the contributions of Brand and despite the fact that the NY Knicks contributed T-shirts to Elton Brand Youth Day; the afternoon was even more bittersweet, as after a 16-year career in the NBA, Brand announced his retirement.
“The Knicks are giving out T-shirts,” Brand smiled. “I really appreciate that and I have always supported and wished the hometown team well. I could get in shape if I got the call but this looks like the end of the run for me, right now it is family time,” stated Brand.
Brand possibly was sending a sign to his hometown team, the New York Knicks, who could possibly use his veteran leadership to help develop a guy like Kristaps Porzingis. Brand had a tough post presence throughout his career and he could help Kristaps develop that part of his game.
On the other hand, the Knicks do have enough big men on the current roster and they might not find use for the 36-year-old big man.
