When the Philadelphia 76ers signed Elton Brand to a five-year contract worth $80 million in the summer of 2008, feelings were mixed among the Philadelphia faithful.
While some said the Sixers were busy overpaying for Brand, Atlanta power forward Josh Smith was busy re-signing with the Atlanta Hawks for just under $60 million. Given his athleticism and speed it just made sense for the Sixers to give Smith a look. They failed to do so.
In his first season with the Sixers, Brand played in just 29 games before sitting out the remainder of the season with a serious shoulder injury.
In 2009, Brand played in 76 games, although his numbers would begin to drop off. Fans were getting anxious. The Sixers were a young team with no leadership under coach Eddie Jordan, and the signing of Brand appeared to be one that had gone terribly wrong.
Averaging just 13 points per game in 30 minutes of work per night in 2009, fans became wary of a player who appeared to be raking in the dollars well past his prime.
Then came 2010. Under new head coach Doug Collins, Brand found new life. Brand played, and started in, 81 games in the 2010-2011 season, mi ...
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Article written by Alec Nathan
Philadelphia 76ers: Fans Should Embrace Elton Brand
March 24th, 2012 by Alec Nathan Leave a reply »
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