Off-season was one big production for Brand

OK, SO I went for the easy column today, and talked to Elton Brand.

There is no nicer athlete in town, consistently friendly, accommodating and now that he has probably achieved status as one of the best basketball players in the NBA, he hasn’t changed a bit.

But the guy’s fried. He sat in front of his locker in full Clippers uniform hours before Wednesday night’s date with Dallas and looked as if he had already played.

“I’m definitely mentally tired,” he admitted, giving up the fight of pretending otherwise anymore. “I thought I was invincible.”

This past summer Brand got married, and I’ll let you come up with your own joke here.

He also joined the U.S. national team in Las Vegas for training camp, went to Korea, Japan and China, returned to join the Clippers for their trip to Russia, and still conducted business as a movie producer, a business that had him also contending with a lawsuit, and while drawing praise as an “honorable man” from an attorney on the other side trying to wear him down, it cost Brand money out of his pocket to settle. I got exhausted just writing that paragraph.

SOME OF this starts with his movie-making experience. He likes writing, he said, and a few years ago he wrote a treatment for a movie, “an urban Pretty Woman,” he said, and began talking to a neighbor who suggested they start a movie company.

“How much is that going to cost?” Brand said. “No, we had no idea, and then we got started and things began to get out of control. There were hidden costs, and budgets and ... “

But Brand liked the real-life story about Dieter Dengler, an American pilot shot down on his first flight during the Vietnam War and Dengler’s struggles as a prisoner of war. “I like character-driven movies,” he said.

Christian Bale, who might be in line for Academy Award consideration for his role in “The Prestige,” plays Dengler in “Rescue Dawn,” and it appears Bale has another hit on his hands.

There was talk of bringing out “Rescue Dawn” in time for Academy Award consideration, but that might’ve taken away from Bale’s chances of being recognized for his work in “The Prestige,” so it will be April before Brand’s movie hits the big screens around the country. Just in time for the playoffs.

The movie drew rave reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival a couple of months ago, and Brand, the movie producer, found himself walking down the red carpet.

YOU’D THINK all that would be exhilarating, striking it rich in Hollywood on his first attempt, but Wednesday a drained Brand said, “I’m done. It’s flushed completely out of my system. Our company is still in existence, but only until this movie comes out. It’s not for me. There were too many surprises.”

His name is still attached to Gibraltar Entertainment, he said, but only until “Rescue Dawn” has run its course. His name has been linked to other movie projects such as “Bad in Bed,” and “Bottom’s Up,” but he said he “has absolutely nothing to do with them.”

“They might be good movies, but [sex-filled movies] are just not for me,” Brand said. “I’ve got my one movie. I’ve still got people pitching ideas to me, but I’m not listening.”

Just imagine the stress that comes with learning a new business, and the brutal education one sometimes gets in Hollywood, and that can be a full day’s work.

Then there’s the airline travel that comes with playing summer basketball for your country, the serious way that Brand attacks any kind of competition, the extra practice time that he persists in putting in, and then toss in a preseason trip that put him on another plane to Russia.

“I think it was Russia where it really started to hit me, and I was thinking, can’t I just go back to L.A. a little early?” he said.

This is no time to rest, of course -- 82 games to play, travel from here to there, and now because he insisted on becoming so good at what he does, he is facing two defenders most of the time, which takes more effort.

“It gives him a chance to work on his passing,” joked teammate Sam Cassell.

Brand said the double teams are a whole new experience, and so he sought advice from Cassell, because, “Sam always knows what to do, and even if he doesn’t, he’ll say he does.”

There wouldn’t have been much help for Brand a few years ago, but now the Clippers can make opponents pay for doubling Brand. As long as he can drag his weary body up and down the court.

Against Dallas, he struggled early, throwing the ball away and watching the Mavericks run out to a 25-13 lead. He had five points in the first half and 13 overall, one more clue that he’s just not himself.

“You talk to Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd, Ray Allen and guys who have played for their country, and believe me -- it’s great,” Cassell said, “but they’ll never do it again because it takes a toll on your body.”

Now having said that, Cassell added, “I’m not worried at all about Elton. We’ll hold the fort down for him. He’ll be OK.”

I have no doubt.

CLIPPERS COACH Mike Dunleavy has said in the past that he dresses in the dark in trying to explain his eye-catching and unusual attire on most nights.

“I love the way he dresses,” said Brand with a grin. “Remember, he’s the man who determines how many minutes you play a night, so I just want to make it clear I love the way he dresses.”

DODGERS GM Ned Colletti had courtside seats for the Clippers game. I could be mistaken, but I thought they were the same seats Milton Bradley used to occupy. Now I understand why Colletti traded him.

T.J. Simers can be reached at

[email protected]. To read previous columns by Simers, go to latimes.com/simers.