76ers' Brand: Fit, healthy and ready

Elton Brand is healthy enough to model the 76ers' new uniforms, but is he healthy enough to endure an 82-game season?

At yesterday's unveiling of the team's newly designed threads, those around Brand used some formidable phrases to describe the power forward's readiness: Teammate Thaddeus Young called him an on-court "monster," and Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski said he was told Brand was "cut like a prizefighter."

Brand himself said he has recovered from last season's shoulder injury and the previous season's torn Achilles tendon, both of which kept him out for the majority of each campaign.

Last summer, Brand came from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Sixers as the team's blockbuster free-agent signing. He played 29 games during the 2008-09 season, averaging 13.8 points and 8.8 rebounds before having season-ending shoulder surgery.

The 6-foot-9 Brand has career averages of 20.0 points and 10.1 rebounds. The Sixers signed him to a five-year, $80 million contract in July 2008.

On the eve of training camp, which begins Tuesday at St. Joseph's University, Brand called this year his "do-over" season, a chance to show why he arrived in Philly amid fanfare and renewed excitement.

"I'm excited to be healthy; I'm excited to add to the team," Brand said. "Two first-round losses the last two years for a young team is OK, but I was brought in here to go farther than that, and that's my goal and that's what I've been thinking about the entire off-season."

"He's looking great," Young said of Brand. "I've been out there with him for the past week and you can tell he's been in the gym. He's making all his little turnaround jumpers, he's doing hook shots, he's taking you off the dribble going to the basket. We'll have to see how he's going to go during the season, but right now he's playing like a monster."

Brand, 30, has been in town working with new coach Eddie Jordan, learning the intricacies of Jordan's version of the Princeton offense.

Brand said he has only been through the basics, but he likes what he has seen so far, adding that he believes the offense will exploit the mid-post area, an area in which Brand, with his soft touch, excels.

Stefanski said Brand's doctor called after a physical this summer and told the general manager, "This kid's cut like a prizefighter."

"All I know is he wants to show everybody who Elton Brand is," Stefanski said. "I don't know if he's putting pressure on himself or not; I hope he isn't because he doesn't have to be our savior or carry us."