Brand Gets All-Star Wish

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. —  The Clippers always believed Elton Brand was an All-Star. Now the rest of the basketball believes it too.

The NBA picked Brand to replace injured Laker center Shaquille O’Neal on the Western Conference team Thursday, making things right in the minds of the Clippers.

Brand, averaging 19 points and 11.2 rebounds, is a first-time All-Star. He also is the first Clipper to play in the All-Star game since Danny Manning in 1994 and 1993.

Brand was resigned to spending a few days at home when he was passed over last week for a reserve spot in voting by Western Conference coaches.

He seemed overjoyed Friday at going to Philadelphia for Sunday’s game.

“It was always in the back of my mind, but I had moved on and accepted it,” he said. “I felt it just wasn’t my year and I had moved on. They still didn’t have to pick me. They could have picked another player. To go is an honor.”

It was an honor that seemed destined to bypass him for the third consecutive season. Brand had averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds in two seasons with the Chicago Bulls before he was traded in the off-season to the Clippers.

“It’s a big reward for him because he’s a blue-collar guy,” Clipper Coach Alvin Gentry said. “He doesn’t have a flashy game, but the results speak for themselves. To me, the fact that he’s second to Tim Duncan in double-doubles means he’s got to be a tremendous player.”

Brand had 25 points and 12 rebounds in the Clippers’ loss Thursday against the Detroit Pistons, his 35th double-double this season and his 14th in the last 16 games. Duncan has 39 double-doubles.

“It’s a no-brainer,” Michael Olowokandi said, referring to Brand’s selection. “I told him on the bus a few days ago that it would happen. It’s good for him and it’s good for our team. Hopefully, it gives our team a little more exposure. But why didn’t he make it in the first place? It goes to show you that when you are deserving things will work out for you in the end.”

In addition to Brand, the Clippers will be represented by Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson, who will play in a game between the league’s top rookies and second-season players Saturday.

Miles was added to the roster of the second-season players after Stromile Swift of the Memphis Grizzlies could not play because of a sprained right toe.

Richardson also will compete in the three-point shooting competition.

The teaming of Miles and Richardson could produce a potent mix of spectacular dunks by Miles and torrid outside shooting from Richardson. Asked about the possibility of hooking up on lob passes for dunks, Richardson smiled slyly.

“If it happens, it happens,” he said. “It’s not something we plan. It comes with the flow of the game. We’ll laugh about it if it happens.”

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Elliott Teaford