Sportsmanship Award for Brand

By Jason Reid

April 30, 2006 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

DENVER — Power forward Elton Brand will be presented the NBA’s 2005-06 sportsmanship award today, sources said.

Brand will receive the Joe Dumars Trophy, given to the player who exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court. Dumars, general manager of the Detroit Pistons, was the first recipient of the award while he was an All-Star guard with the Pistons.

The Clippers announced Saturday an award ceremony would occur today before practice at the Spectrum Health Club in El Segundo but declined to reveal the award or recipient.

Grant Hill of the Orlando Magic was selected as last season’s winner.

Brand, a seven-year veteran, had his best season, averaging a career-high 24.7 points plus 10 rebounds and 2.54 blocked shots while leading the Clippers to their first playoff berth in nine seasons.

The NBA’s co-rookie of the year in 1999-2000, Brand was selected to his second All-Star team this season.

Center Chris Kaman, slowed because of a viral illness, played a big part in the 100-86 Game 4 victory over the Denver Nuggets, scoring 12 points with five rebounds and two blocked shots in 31 minutes.

Kaman, also bothered by a sore right ankle, remained at the team hotel Saturday while the Clippers practiced at the University of Denver, and received fluids intravenously throughout the day.

But the Clippers needed Kaman, so he delivered.

“He’s amazing, and I’m so proud of him,” Brand said. “He had an IV in his arm, and he still came to play.

“Before the game, he comes to me and goes, ‘E.B., look.’ He still had the IV in his arm, so he could get another bag before we went out. I love it. He showed a lot of guts and a lot of heart.”

Kaman said he did what he could.

“I didn’t know how I was going to feel, and I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I knew I was dying [Friday]. I was in so much pain, I wanted to kill myself. My stomach was cramped, it was aching and my body was hurting.

“I got in there and I was a little tired and dizzy to start. Then I started to feel a little bit better and felt good.”

Vladimir Radmanovic started in place of Kaman at center and scored 14 points, making four of five three-point attempts. He set a Clipper playoff record for most three-pointers in a game.

The Nuggets, meanwhile, are 11 for 56 on three-pointers in the series.

As of Saturday afternoon, 2,000 tickets remained for Game 5, a Clipper spokesman said.