Remember when David West averaged 21.0 points a game? Remember when Philadelphia thought they won the lotto when they acquired Elton Brand? Remember when Antawn Jamison was, well, Antawn Jamison?
All three players had a double-double Friday night: West, 22 points 13 rebounds, Brand, 12 and 10, Jamison, 34 and 11. These three players, in their prime, were forces to be reckoned with. They may be on the decline but can still produce and be useful.
David West, Indiana Pacers, PF, 6’9″
There were rumors that West was to sign with the Boston Celtics this off-season but we instead watched him sign with the Pacers. Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, David’s stats in points and rebounds were both season highs. His performance has declined since his best season in 2008-09 when he averaged 20.6 PPG and 8.9 RPG. West has only tallied two double-doubles this year, however he is still producing, averaging 11.6 PPG and 6.6 RPG, for the gritty Indiana Pacers and is a integral part to their game plan.
Elton Brand, Philadelphia 76ers, PF, 6’9″
Brand is another 6-foot-9 “big man” that has left his mark in the NBA. Coming out of Kentucky 12 years ago, Brand was slotted to be a force in the league. He made an immediate impact in Chicago on the Bulls roster as he started 80 games and averaged 20.0 PPG and 10.1 RPG. He was never one to be pushed around, moving around with a 250+ pound frame, but was shipped to Los Angeles in 2001, and struggled on a Clipper team that was much less than desirable. His second chance came in 2008 when he signed with the Sixers, but injuries hurt his chances of making the roaring comeback that was sought after. Brand is now a part of a Philadelphia team that breaks almost all convention wisdom and remains a tough competitor that will put up numbers in the PPG and RPG column, averaging 10.1 and 7.0.
Antawn Jamison, Cleveland Cavaliers, PF, 6’9″
Unlike Brand, Jamison’s frame took him out of the bruiser category and pushed him into the scorer-type role. He has quietly delivered on a consistent basis, never averaging less than 19.6 points while starting half the games in a season. In fact, that’s his average over his 12+ year career. This season he is averaging 16.0 points per game with his fourth team since being drafted out of North Carolina. Jamison is now the veteran on a Cavalier team filled with youth which is centered around this past year’s first overall pick Kyrie Irving. Unfortunately for Jamison, Irving’s arrival has slowed down his production on the stat line, but as the player with the most experience on the squad Jamison still produces and will get you much needed stats.
