Career: Duke (USA-NCAA, 1997-99), Chicago Bulls (USA-NBA, 1999-2001), Los Angeles Clippers (2001-06).

Life is good for Elton Brand. One year ago, he was a statistical monster who seemed unable to change a team into a winner. A year later, he's the leader of a very promising Clippers team that took Phoenix to Game 7 in the second round of the playoffs. During the Suns series, Brand took it to another level, averaging 30.9 points per game on 59.1 percent shooting. This likely is the start of something new, something bigger for Brand, who now has the recognition he always deserved. Long gone are the days when the Bulls traded him after he averaged a double-double over his first two years in the league. Brand will bring his new status to the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

Four years after going through the nightmare in Indianapolis, Brand should come back with a vengeance. For part of this 2005-06 season, the good performances of the Clippers and Elton's great stats (24.7 ppg, shooting 52.7% from the field, 10.0 rebounds and 30.8 efficiency ratio, Number 1 in the NBA) made him a legitimate contender for MVP honnours.