Brand Gets Wish With All-Star Spot

The wait is over.

Elton Brand was officially added to the NBA All-Star game Thursday as a member of the Western Conference squad. The 6-foot-8 forward was chosen by the league’s coaches as a reserve.

The selection underlines what has been a brilliant season for Brand, 26. He ranks 10th in the league in scoring (25.2), sixth in rebounding (10.3) and fifth in blocked shots (2.62). Brand is making 52.9% of his shots from the floor, and 78.1% of his free-throw attempts.

“I didn’t want to be overly cocky about it, but I was pretty confident” about going, Brand said after practice. “The team is playing well, and I always thought if the team had success there would be individual accolades.”

Brand’s only other All-Star appearance was in 2002 (the first Clipper to make the team since Danny Manning in 1994), when he replaced then-Laker center Shaquille O’Neal on the roster because O’Neal was injured.

“That was special,” Brand said. “But as a team [the Clippers have] accomplished a few more milestones this year. So I want to represent my teammates and organization ... I think this one’s a little more special.”

Coach Mike Dunleavy said, “Elton worked on many facets of his game over the summer. That’s part of it. But the other part is our team is a good team. People recognize that, look at the starting point of that, and see the numbers Elton is putting up.”

Brand’s teammates were delighted by the selection.

“Well deserved,” Sam Cassell said. “I don’t think there’s a better power forward in the game right now. He does what his team needs him to do; it’s that simple.”

Said Cuttino Mobley: “I’m so happy for him. He told me ‘Thank you for helping me get there.’ I said, ‘You’re not thanking me for anything; we’re just winning now.’ He could have been an All-Star the last six years.”

The game will be played in Houston on Feb. 19.

*

Corey Maggette, sidelined for 27 games because of a separated ligament in his left foot, came to practice Thursday for the first time without a soft cast, which was removed Jan. 31. He said he hopes to be cleared to get back on the court for light workouts next week.

“It’s good to be walking again. That’s the biggest thing,” Maggette said.

TONIGHT

vs. Memphis, 7:30, FSN West 2

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Clippers 29-18, Grizzlies 26-22.

Record vs. Grizzlies (2004-05) -- 1-3.

Update -- Memphis has lost four straight, including Wednesday’s 108-102 setback at Phoenix. But the Grizzlies have won eight of the last nine meetings with the Clippers dating to the 2002-03 season. Memphis also has beaten the Clippers four straight on the Clippers’ home floor. Cassell, who sat out Wednesday’s game against Detroit because of back spasms, worked out with the team Thursday and expects to play tonight. Dunleavy is coaching his 1,000th NBA game tonight.

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

All-Star lineup

Starters and reserves for the 55th NBA All-Star game on Feb. 19 at Toyota Center in Houston (5 p.m. PST, TNT). Statistics are through Wednesday:

*--* WESTERN CONFERENCE STARTERS POS PLAYER, TEAM (ALL-STAR APP.) HT PPG C Yao Ming, Houston (4) 7-6 20.0 F Tim Duncan, San Antonio (8) 7-0 19.9 F Tracy McGrady, Houston (6) 6-8 26.5 G Steve Nash, Phoenix (4) 6-3 19.4 G KOBE BRYANT, LAKERS (8) 6-6 35.7 RESERVES F ELTON BRAND, CLIPPERS (2) 6-8 25.2 F Kevin Garnett, Minnesota (9) 6-11 21.8 F Pau Gasol, Memphis (1) 7-0 19.5 F Shawn Marion, Phoenix (3) 6-7 21.3 F Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas (5) 7-0 25.4 G Ray Allen, Seattle (6) 6-5 24.8 G Tony Parker, San Antonio (1) 6-2 19.7 COACH: Avery Johnson, Dallas

*--*

*--* EASTERN CONFERENCE STARTERS POS PLAYER, TEAM (ALL-STAR APP.) HT PPG C Shaquille O’Neal, Miami (13) 7-1 19.1 F *Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana (5) 6-11 20.9 F LeBron James, Cleveland (2) 6-8 30.9 G Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 6-0 33.6 (7) G Dwyane Wade, Miami (2) 6-4 27.0 RESERVES C Ben Wallace, Detroit (4) 6-9 7.8 F Chris Bosh, Toronto (1) 6-10 23.0 F Rasheed Wallace, Detroit (3) 6-11 15.1 G-F Vince Carter, New Jersey (7) 6-6 24.1 G-F Paul Pierce, Boston (5) 6-6 25.7 G Chauncey Billups, Detroit (1) 6-3 18.8 G Richard Hamilton, Detroit (1) 6-7 21.6 COACH: Flip Saunders, Detroit

*--*

* injured