New Orleans' P.J. Brown was awarded with the NBA's Sportsmanship Award before his Hornets took on the Miami Heat in a must win game.

Brown, a finalist in each of the past three seasons after being a Central Division winner, beat out the Los Angeles Clippers' Elton Brand (1,139), the Memphis Grizzlies' Shane Battier (985) and the New Jersey Nets' Kerry Kittles (880) to take the award.  Brown finished with 1,220 of a possible 1,320 points.

The trophy, named after Joe Dumars, honors a player who exemplified the ideals of sportsmanship on the court, ethical behavior and fair play.

ELTON Brand will soon be added to America's fluctuating Athens Olympics' 12-man Dream Team, according to a USA Basketball Committee member. The Clippers' forward was a supplementary pickup for last summer's qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico; this is the thanks he and Richard Jefferson get for their unswerving production and professionalism.
Invitations to Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Garnett have not yet been accepted. Vince Carter (having renounced his spot) and Ray Allen (leaning in that direction) are getting married this summer, apparently prepared to go to any extremes not to play.

Here's the updated unwritten-in-stone view regarding the possible participation of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire: "They're young and should probably wait their turn for the World Games in '06 or the next Olympics in '08," explained the same committee member. "They'll have plenty of chances to represent our country later on."

Los Angeles Clippers guard Quentin Richardson's season might not be over after all.

There is a chance that Richardson will come off of the injured list and play in Sunday's home game against the San Antonio Spurs.

"We need to see about his conditioning a little more,'' Coach Mike Dunleavy said. "He looked OK, a little winded.''

Richardson has been on the injured list since March 28 with back spasms.

He is averaging 17.7 points this season and will be a restricted free agent at season's end.