Chicago Bulls (1999–2001) On June 30, 1999, Brand was selected by the
Chicago Bulls with the
first overall pick in the
1999 NBA draft. On November 19, Brand scored 29 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, and blocked 4 shots in the ninth game of his career, a 103–95 loss to the
Los Angeles Lakers. He was later named the
most valuable player of the
Rookie Challenge over
All-Star Weekend. He ended the season with averages of 20.1 points and 10 rebounds per game, and he shared
NBA Rookie of the Year honors with
Houston Rockets guard
Steve Francis. Despite his personal success,
Brand and the Bulls finished with the second worst record in the league at 17–65. Through much of the
2000–01 season, Brand was hailed as the linchpin of a possible new Chicago dynasty. On December 31, Brand scored a season high 31 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a 86–75 win over the
New Jersey Nets. Brand averaged 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game; his 3.9 offensive rebounds per game were the second-best in the NBA. As a team however, again the Bulls struggled, finishing with an even worse record at 15–67.
Los Angeles Clippers (2001–2008) for seven seasons. After two successful seasons with the Bulls, Brand was traded to the
Los Angeles Clippers in June 2001 for
Brian Skinner and the draft rights to
Tyson Chandler. In 2002, Brand became the first Clipper since
Danny Manning (in 1994) to be selected to the All-Star team. When Brand became a restricted free agent in 2003, the
Miami Heat made an offer worth $82 million over six years. In what was an unprecedented move by team owner
Donald Sterling, the Clippers matched Miami's offer and managed to keep Brand a Clipper. Prior to this, the biggest contract Sterling had approved to that point was a five-year, $15 million deal for
Eric Piatkowski in 1998. Sterling had also refused to offer Brand a contract extension one year prior, when he was willing to accept less than the maximum. In the
2006 NBA season, Brand experienced a professional renaissance. He posted career-highs in points per game (24.7) and field-goal percentage (52.7), while leading the Clippers to a 47–35 record, their then-best record in team history, and good enough for the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Brand was selected to the
2006 NBA All-Star Game and considered as a strong candidate for the 2006
NBA MVP. Brand led the franchise to its first playoff series win since 1976, when the team was known as the Buffalo Braves. Although the Clippers eventually lost in Game 7 of the second round (Western Conference Semifinals) against the
Phoenix Suns, the Clippers had the best season that their franchise had ever seen at that time. Brand received the
Joe Dumars Trophy after being named the 2005–06
NBA Sportsmanship Award winner. Following his stellar
2005–06 season, Brand regressed somewhat in the following season. His scoring average in
2006–07 dropped and the Clippers missed the playoffs. He missed most of the
2007–08 season due to a ruptured left Achilles tendon. However, Brand made his return to the Clippers' lineup April 2, 2008 after being out since the end of the previous season. He contributed 19 points in his return. Brand played in only eight games that season. Brand later opted out of the final year of his contract and became a
free agent. Sources indicated that Brand chose to opt out from his contract in order to provide Clippers with more payroll flexibility in hopes of strengthening their roster. This came to fruition when Clippers landed
Golden State Warriors star
Baron Davis. Briefly, this gave Clippers' management and the media the reassurance that Brand would indeed re-sign with the team.
Philadelphia 76ers (2008–2012) On July 9, 2008, Brand signed with the
Philadelphia 76ers to a reported five-year, $82 million contract. Brand longed to return to the East Coast, and chose Philadelphia as it was the closest suitor to his hometown of
Peekskill, New York. It was announced on February 5, 2009, that Brand would have season-ending shoulder surgery for the injury he sustained on December 17, 2008. During the game that night against the
Milwaukee Bucks, Brand dislocated his shoulder when he was knocked to the floor while going for a rebound. Brand had been coming off of the bench so that he could be slowly worked back into the lineup, but after over a month on the bench and only six games back during which his production was severely limited, the decision was made to go forward with the surgery. The procedure was successfully performed on February 9. On February 4, 2012, Brand scored a Sixers career high 33 points in a 100–98 win over the
New York Knicks. He finished his first tenure with the
Philadelphia 76ers averaging 11 points per game and just over 8 rebounds per game during the 2011–12 season. He averaged 8.6 points and 4.8 rebounds in the
2012 NBA Playoffs in a total of 13 games when the Sixers lost in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the
Boston Celtics 85–75. On July 11, 2012, Brand was released from the 76ers via the
amnesty clause.
Dallas Mavericks (2012–2013) On July 13, 2012, Brand was claimed off waivers by the
Dallas Mavericks with a winning bid of $2.1 million. The 76ers still had to pay out the remaining balance of the $18.2 million owed to Brand this season in the final year of his contract. In 2012–13, he averaged 7.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 assists in 21.2 minutes per game. He played 72 games and started 18 of them. The Mavericks finished 41–41 and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1999–2000 season.
Atlanta Hawks and first retirement (2013–2015) On July 15, 2013, Brand signed with the
Atlanta Hawks. On September 23, 2014, he re-signed with the Hawks and changed his long-time jersey number of 42, to 7. On August 11, 2015, Brand announced his retirement from professional basketball.
Return to the 76ers and second retirement (2016) On January 4, 2016, Brand came out of retirement to re-enter the NBA, citing that
Duke coach
Mike Krzyzewski helped convince him to return to play. Later that day, he signed with the
Philadelphia 76ers, returning to the franchise for a second stint. On January 26, he was activated for the first time, but did not play for the 76ers against the
Phoenix Suns. On March 4, he made his season debut for the 76ers, playing in an NBA game for the first time since May 20, 2015. In 13 minutes off the bench, he recorded eight points and four rebounds in a 112–102 loss to the
Miami Heat. On March 12, he recorded a 10-point game against the
Detroit Pistons, scoring in double digits for the first time since April 14, 2014. On March 27, he recorded a second 10-point game in a loss to the
Golden State Warriors. Two days later, he scored seven points and grabbed a season-high nine rebounds in a loss to the
Charlotte Hornets, as he became the 51st player in NBA history to reach 9,000 career rebounds. On September 7, 2016, Brand re-signed with the 76ers. However, on October 20, 2016, he announced his second retirement. ==Post-playing career==