Elton Brand on his old team; advice for Bynum
Former 76er Elton Brand has fond memories of the four years he played in Philly, and even though the team parted ways with Brand by using the amnesty clause on him, Brand, who now plays for Dallas, has no hard feelings.
Elton Brand on his old team; advice for Bynum
Former 76er Elton Brand has fond memories of the four years he played in Philly, and even though the team parted ways with Brand by using the amnesty clause on him, Brand, who now plays for Dallas, has no hard feelings.
“They are great players, great coaches and, even more important, they are great people,” Brand said this morning at the Mavericks’ shootaround in preparation for Tuesday’s game at Wells Fargo Center against the Sixers. “And you hope that doesn’t change because that could bring a team down.”
“But as long as they have great guys who are willing to grow, willing to get better and willing to listen the franchise will be alright,” said Brand, who averaged 13.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in four seasons with the Sixers. “I still root for the franchise and I want them to do well – but not tonight,” laughed Brand.
Brand never totally recovered from the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered while with the Los Angeles Clippers to became the player the Sixers thought he would become when they signed him to a five-year, $80 million deal in 2008.
Brand said he has been watching the Andrew Bynum situation closely – Bynum is in the final year of his contract – and had some advice for him and his troublesome knees.
“It’s tough as a player,” Brand said. “I came here with high aspirations similar to Bynum, and being hurt it was tough but you’ve got to try to keep grinding and trying to get out there. I think it will turn out well for the city and well for the fans,” Brand said. “Hopefully he can get out there, maybe not this season but next season, and add his low-post presence with all of those shooters they have out there.”
Brand advised Bynum to do what is best for himself in the long run.
“It’s tough,” Brand said. “You have to weigh what is best for your future because if you come back too early you can complicate things even further and there won’t be any contract at all, so you definitely have to weigh that when you are an injured player.”
Here's video of Thaddeus Young talking about his memories of playing with Elton Brand in Philadelphia.
Bynum is similar to Ruland except Ruland played 5 games for the Sixers. That big stiff Bynum is stealing a paycheck!— vietnamvet- why are we so quick to think Bynum will never play in philly. We need him in the stretch run and in the playoffs. Everyone needs to chill. This is basically the same team as last year, but replace Iguodala with ET, Lou Williams with Nick Young, Brand with Lavoy Allen. Jrue is better than last year. So is Spencer, Allen, ET, Thadeus Young. Now if Bynum gets healthy, watch out!!!— xrajux
- Bynum i a p***y.— gentian
- this fanbase doesnt even deserve a championship!!! we really dont! look around the league, all sort of star players are injured and OUT til febuary! why in the world would any sixer fan ever want bynum to play a meaningless game before Febuary? if he makes a compl0ete recovery TODAY, I still hold him out until febuary! and I hold him out every single season til mid febuary regardless of his health for the next 5 years if he re-signs with us. If Bynum wasnt coming back, you think he would be wih the team every single day? you think he would be sitting on the bench during games! all typers of superstars around the league are injured and wont be back for months. yet we are the only idiots hwo say Bynum will never play another game. Bynum will be an intricate part of atleast our next 3 playoff runs!!! anyone feel so certain that Im wrong, take two minutes out of your day to create a pay pal account and bet me anything you want. I talked to sixers beat report for an hour yesterday, and I was specifically told its not as bad as it seems, and because as a fan base, we are so ridculous, the team thinks its better to eliminate the distraction, and rule him out idefinitely! I have first hand knowledge of it not being as bad as everything we are making it out to be..Personally, I think regardless that Bynum will milk this til Febuary, regardless of how his knees feel!— johnGiam
- EB is awesome -- always really liked the guy.
Too bad we got him when his spirit exceeded his youthful ability.
Bynum will play when it matters -- March, April, when the Spring arrives, we don't have chapped lips -- and games matter most.
— concernedwriter
Keith Pompey has been an Inquirer reporter since September 2004. He takes over the Sixers beat after covering the Temple men’s basketball team for the past three years and Temple football the past two seasons. Pompey also previously covered the Penn and Drexel men’s basketball team and Villanova football team after initially focusing on high school sports.
Pompey is a native Philadelphian and a University of Pittsburgh. Follow him on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers or reach Keith at kpompey@phillynews.com.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
