Clippers' Brand ruptures left Achilles tendon during workout

[Jing]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2960614

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- In the latest nasty injury blow for the Los Angeles Clippers, cornerstone forward Elton Brand ruptured his left Achilles tendon on Friday during his usual daily workout.


Elton Brand

Forward-Center
Los Angeles Clippers

Profile

2007 Season Stats GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
80 20.5 9.3 2.9 .533 .761

Brand, 28, is expected to undergo surgery next week and joins teammate Shaun Livingston on the list of long-term injury victims for the Clippers.

Achilles tendon injuries typically sideline NBA players for at least a year, which would theoretically threaten Brand's availability for all of the 2007-08 season.

But ESPN.com's Marc Stein reports that the Clippers have received a preliminary medical indication that Brand will be sidelined only six months. If so, Brand would be in line for a comeback in February.

"It's unfortunate that this had to happen," Clippers vice president of basketball operations Elgin Baylor said in a statement. "But knowing Elton and how dedicated he is to his profession and how hard he works, I believe he'll be back 100 percent as good as ever."

Brand recently withdrew from Team USA to rehabilitate a knee injury after averaging 20.5 points and 9.3 rebounds last season, in which L.A. finished 40-42 and just missed the playoffs. In his breakout 2005-06 campaign, Brand averaged 24.7 points and 10.0 rebounds and helped lead the Clippers to the second round of the playoffs and a Game 7 loss to Phoenix, their most successful season of a two-decade Los Angeles existence.

The difference between Brand and Livingston, though, is that Livingston's injury is considered career-threatening. Livingston is out indefinitely after dislocating his left kneecap against Charlotte in late February, with an awkward landing causing damage to almost every part of the knee.

[Lamrock]

Wow, this means that there might be a worst team than Minnesota and Seattle this season!

But, I like Brand and the Clippers; so this is a bummer. The last year of Cassell's career will be lame.

[cyanide]

You've been an hour late. Sorry!

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