Sixers Power Forward (and top-paid player) Elton Brand will miss the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury, said the team Thursday.
Brand recently returned to the Sixers lineup after originally injuring his right shoulder in a collision on December 17, 2008. Brand rehabbed the dislocated shoulder for six weeks before returning two weeks ago.
Brand was coming off the bench as he tried to get his shoulder back to full strength. Things seemed off after Brand only played eight minutes in a heartbreaking loss to the Boston Celtics Tuesday night.
After an MRI earlier in the week, doctors concluded "that the initial tear of the labrum in Brand’s right shoulder is responsible for a considerable decrease in the range of motion and instability, both of which would not allow him to be effective on the court," said the Sixers.
Brand had already missed a couple games earlier this season with a hamstring injury.
The surgery will be performed at Wilmington Surgery Center on Monday.
Brand told reporters Thursday that his doctors felt this was the best time to do the surgery.
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"It's the most disappointed I've ever been in my career. I'm supposed to be winning. Its supposed to be fun," said Brand.
The former All-Star power forward came to Philadelphia with plenty of hype after signing a nearly $80-million contract this past off season. He was seen as the crown-jewel of the free agent market that would make the Sixers into contenders, but Brand struggled throughout the season to fit in with the 76ers' running offense before getting hurt.
