Reporting from Philadelphia -- Man hugs, real hugs and mutual admiration take place between opponents just before an NBA tipoff. All this male bonding and all that's missing are the cigars.
Which brings us to the Clippers' Baron Davis and the 76ers' Elton Brand. So will they hug, exchange pleasantries or even lock eyes before tonight's game?
"I've got nothing to say to him," Davis said on Wednesday.
This was in the visitors' locker room at Oklahoma City, not long after the Clippers beat the Thunder by 20 points. The mention of Brand quickly wiped away Davis' smile, especially because he just had been talking about Oklahoma City's Earl Watson, saying he regards Watson like "a brother."
Davis hasn't spoken to Brand, and said he doesn't plan to do so, because the former Clipper recruited Davis to come join him in Los Angeles and then Brand did a quick cut and run, heading East for a bigger bag of money, a five-year deal worth almost $80 million.
Lisa Dillman, LA Times
Brand said he hadn't thought too much about the game, saying he might feel different if he was traded or released. He was the one who made the decision to leave via free agency so there's nothing left to prove.
The jitters might come Dec. 31 when Brand makes his first return to Los Angeles to play the Clippers.
"Yeah, definitely New Year's when I go back and hear all those great applause," he said, laughing. "It might be a little different there."
ESPN
