Elton Brand was the top overall selection in the 1999 NBA Draft. He was chosen by a Chicago Bulls team, that had just concluded the prior season with a dismal record of 13-69. This was merely two years after Michael Jordan secured his sixth NBA Championship in Chicago.
Brand was anticipated to become the foundation of the Bulls' rebuilding efforts.
He made his entrance into the NBA, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds in his rookie season
He had a remarkable 17-year career in the NBA. Throughout thirteen of those years, he maintained an average of double-digit points, and on six occasions, he also averaged double-digit rebounds.
Brand played for several teams, including the Bulls, Clippers, Sixers, Mavericks, and Hawks, ultimately retiring in 2016 with Philadelphia.
He was a 2× NBA All-Star, earned All-NBA Second Team honors, made the NBA AllRookie First Team, and was co-Rookie of the Year. He also led the NBA in offensive rebounds twice.
In 2018, Elton Brand took on the role of General Manager for the Philadelphia 76ers. During his tenure, he made a notable trade for Jimmy Butler and selected Tyrese Maxey in the draft.
The Sixers maintained a winning record each year during Brand's tenure, with the 2024-25 season seemingly marking his first losing year.
BERNARD KING
Bernard King was chosen as the 7th overall pick by the New York Nets in the 1977 NBA Draft. A few months later, the team moved from New York to New Jersey, rebranding themselves as the New Jersey Nets.
King wrapped up his rookie season with impressive averages of 24.2 points and 9.5 rebounds, which earned him a place on the NBA AllRookie First Team.
After spending his first two seasons with the New Jersey Nets, the 6'7" forward was traded to the Utah Jazz along with John Gianelli and Jim Boylan in exchange for Rich Kelley.
Off-the-court challenges led the Nets to trade one of the league's top scorers for a rotation center. During the 1979-1980 season, King appeared in just 19 games with the Jazz as he received treatment for substances abuse.
The Jazz traded King to the Golden State Warriors, where he had an outstanding debut season, averaging 21.9 points per game and earning the Comeback Player of the Year award. In his second and final season with the Warriors, he improved to an average of 23.2 points per game before signing as a free agent with the New York Knicks.
The Golden State Warriors had exercised their right of first refusal, initially matching the Knicks' offer, but then traded King to the Knicks for Michael Ray Richardson and a draft pick
On January 31 and February 1, 1984, Bernard King made history by scoring 50 points in back-to-back games for the New York Knicks, becoming the first player to achieve this feat since Wilt Chamberlain in 1964.
King sustained a knee injury that as a result, he missed the whole 1985–86 season and a large part of the 1986–87 season. Upon his return, he was RELEASED BY THE Knicks.
Knicks fans expressed frustration at never seeing Bernard King and Patrick Ewing play together. King left the Knicks with an average of 26.5 points over four seasons.
fourth NBA All Star selection, averaging 28.4 points at age 34.
During his 14-year career, King averaged over 20 points in 11 seasons, peaking in the 1984-85 season when he led the league with an average of 32.9 points for the New York Knicks.
Despite his numerous accomplishments, Bernard King was not enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until 2013, exactly twenty years after his retirement.
READY FOR A CAREER CHANGE
THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY
Laila Ali and Claressa Shields are among the most accomplished female boxers in the sport's history. However, these two legends have a rivalry, and despite their 18-year age difference— Laila being 47 and Claressa 29—a potential matchup between them would create an unprecedented biggest clash in women's boxing.
Ali is a four-time world champion in boxing, maintaining an undefeated record throughout her career. She has captured the WBC, WIBA, IWBF, and IBA female super middleweight titles, in addition to the IWBF light heavyweight title
Claressa Shields has secured multiple world championships across five weight classes, including the undisputed female light middleweight title in March 2021 and the undisputed female middleweight title on two occasions between 2019 and 2024.
Additionally, she held the World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) female super middleweight titles from 2017 to 2018, as well as the World Boxing Organization (WBO) female light heavyweight title, and she has held the undisputed female heavyweight title since February 2025. Shields currently holds the record for being the fastest to become a two, three, four, and five-division world champion in the fewest professional fights.
Despite their impressive achievements, these women have engaged in playful banter on social media and even entertained the notion of facing off in a match. At nearly 50 years old, Ali expressed confidence in her ability to defeat Shields, asserting that Shields lacks both the size and skill to win against her. I would have found this assessment more convincing if it had been made 20 years ago.
Eighteen years is quite a stretch without stepping into the ring, especially to face someone young enough to be your child. With all due respect, Ali's legacy is built upon her boxing history. Entering the ring with Shields could potentially tarnish that legacy. It's important to note that Ali has made significant contributions to women's boxing, essentially bringing the sport into the spotlight. The ongoing dispute between her and Shields doesn't seem to justify a boxing match. It's reminiscent of a hypothetical scenario where Michael Jordan, now 62, would come out of retirement to confront a 40-year-old LeBron James over a disagreement.
Who’s Walter Clayton Jr
Walter Clayton Jr. grew up in the charming town of Lake Wales, Florida, which has a population of around 16,000. In his younger years, he was actively involved in both football and basketball, with many believing he showed greater talent in football. He received scholarship offers to play football from prestigious schools including Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Georgia, Nebraska, and West Virginia. However, Walter chose to decline those offers and instead enrolled at the University of Iona.
He committed to Iona over offers from East Carolina, Florida A&M, Charleston, Stetson, and James Madison.
When Iona head coach Rick Pitino first observed Walter Clayton in action, his initial assessment was that he was fat, slow and couldn’t shoot.
In his rookie year, he averaged 7.3 points before achieving the title of MAAC Player of the Year in his sophomore year. Clayton's scoring soared from 7.3 to 16.8 points, challenging Rick Pitino's initial evaluation of his abilities.
Following his sophomore year, Iona’s head coach, Rick Pitino, departed to take on the head coaching position at St. John's University. Rather than following his coach, Clayton chose to return home and play for Coach Todd Golden at the University of Florida.
He averaged 17.6 points in his first season at Florida, and transitioning from the MAAC to the SEC is nearly comparable to going from the G League to the NBA.
In the 2024 NCAA basketball tournament, the Florida Gators were defeated by Colorado in the first round. The Gators, seeded 7th in the South region, lost to Colorado, a 10th seed, with a final score of 102-100.
Walter Clayton topped all scorers with 33 points and was initially set to declare for the NBA draft. However, he experienced a change of heart and decided to return for his senior year.
Fortunately for the Gators, Clayton's decision yielded great results, as he averaged his career college-high of 18.3 points and played a crucial role in helping the University of Florida secure their third NCAA Basketball title.
After posting 30 points and 34 points in back-to-back rounds, Clayton Jr. became first player since Larry Bird in 1979 to score 30 points consecutively in the Elite Eight and Final Four. He then capped this entire run off with claiming Most Outstanding Player honors along the way.
With his college career now behind him, we eagerly anticipate what Walter Clayton Jr. will bring to the table in his NBA journey.
