Apr 13, 1982
Los Angeles Clippers logo LAC 94
Phoenix Suns logo PHX 105
Boxscore
Apr 15, 1982
Los Angeles Clippers logo LAC 129
Portland Trail Blazers logo POR 123
Boxscore

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Los Angeles Clippers 1981-1982 stats

NBA

Player Height Age Pts Reb Ast GP W-L MIN 3P% FG% FT% Or Reb Ast Stl To Blk Fo Pts Eff PTS REB AST
Tom Chambers 2m09 22 17.2 6.8 1.8 81 16-65 32.9 0% 52.1% 62% 1.1 6.8 1.8 0.3 1.9 0.4 4.1 17.2 16.2 39 16 6
Freeman Williams 1m94 25 16.5 1.2 1.7 37 11-26 21 27.7% 45.3% 84.3% 0.3 1.2 1.7 0.4 1.6 0 2.2 16.5 10.3 32 7 5
Michael Brooks 2m01 23 15.6 7.5 2.8 82 17-65 33.2 0% 50.9% 75.7% 1 7.5 2.8 0.6 1.7 0.3 3.4 15.6 18 37 17 11
Jerome Whitehead 2m10 25 13.8 9 1.4 72 12-60 30.2 - 56.7% 76.3% 1.3 9 1.4 0.3 1.2 0.5 3.9 13.8 18.8 31 23 6
Phil Smith 1m94 29 13.2 2.4 4.5 48 14-34 29.7 11.8% 44.9% 73.2% 0.4 2.4 4.5 0.4 1.9 0.2 3.1 13.2 11.5 30 6 14
Charlie Criss 1m71 33 12.9 1.6 4.1 28 4-24 30 31.3% 47.7% 88.4% 0 1.6 4.1 0.2 1.1 0.1 1.9 12.9 12.1 34 3 9
Al Wood 1m98 23 12.5 3.1 1.6 29 3-26 23.5 27.3% 51.8% 80.2% 0.4 3.1 1.6 0.3 1.4 0.2 2.3 12.5 11.1 29 9 3
Swen Nater 2m11 31 12.5 8.8 1.5 21 6-15 27.4 100% 57.7% 76.6% 0.9 8.8 1.5 0.1 1.5 0.4 3.1 12.5 17.3 20 19 4
Joe Bryant 2m08 27 11.8 3.7 2.5 75 17-58 26.2 28% 49.5% 78.5% 0.4 3.7 2.5 0.5 1.7 0.3 3.2 11.8 11.9 32 12 11
Brian Taylor 1m89 30 10.8 2.2 5.5 41 14-27 30.1 36.4% 49.4% 81.8% 0.3 2.2 5.5 0.6 1.6 0.2 2.6 10.8 13.3 32 6 13
Michael Wiley 2m06 24 8.3 3 0.9 61 12-49 16.6 0% 56.5% 69.5% 0.4 3 0.9 0.2 0.8 0.2 2 8.3 8.4 28 9 5
John Douglas 1m88 25 7 1.4 2.3 64 13-51 16.1 26.8% 44.7% 65.7% 0.1 1.4 2.3 0.3 1 0.1 2.3 7 6.2 28 7 10
Jim Brogan 1m93 23 6.3 1.9 2.4 63 11-52 16.3 25.9% 45% 71.8% 0.4 1.9 2.4 0.4 1 0.2 1.9 6.3 6.7 24 6 10
Armond Hill 1m94 28 4.7 1.4 4.3 19 1-18 25.3 0% 38.2% 68.8% 0.2 1.4 4.3 0.6 1.7 0.1 2.7 4.7 5.9 13 4 10
Ron Davis 1m98 27 3.3 1.9 0.6 7 2-5 9.6 - 41.7% 50% 0.3 1.9 0.6 0 0.6 0 1.1 3.3 2.7 16 6 3
Jim Smith 2m05 23 2.9 2.5 0.7 72 15-57 11.7 - 48.9% 45.9% 0.4 2.5 0.7 0.1 0.5 0.6 2.4 2.9 4.4 13 9 6
Rock Lee 2m10 26 1 0.5 1 2 0-2 5 - 50% 0% 0 0.5 1 0 0 0 1.5 1 0 2 1 2
Total 108.5 39.8 22.6 82 17-65 238.2 27% 50.1% 72.4% 5.6 39.8 22.6 3.6 13.1 2.8 27.7 108.5 113.5
Opponents 115.9 39.9 25.6 82 - 238.2 25.2% 53.3% 75.1% 5.1 39.9 25.6 4.6 11.7 4.4 25.1 115.9 130.9
Gap -7,4 -0,1 -3,0 0 - 0 1,8% -3,2% -2,7% 0,5 -0,1 -3,0 -1,0 1,4 -1,6 2,6 -7,4 -17,4
Average
height 199 cm
Average
age 26 years old
Player Height Age Pts Reb Ast GP W-L MIN 2P 3P FG FT Reb Ast Stl Blk Fo Pts Eff
Tom Chambers 2m09 22 1392 547 148 81 16-65 2666 554/1061 0/2 554/1063 284/458 86 547 148 26 154 34 329 1392 1310
Freeman Williams 1m94 25 610 46 64 37 11-26 776 210/445 13/47 223/492 118/140 11 46 64 13 61 0 82 610 381
Michael Brooks 2m01 23 1276 614 231 82 17-65 2723 537/1051 0/4 537/1055 202/267 78 614 231 49 136 26 277 1276 1477
Jerome Whitehead 2m10 25 996 651 101 72 12-60 2176 406/716 0/0 406/716 184/241 93 651 101 24 87 33 279 996 1351
Phil Smith 1m94 29 634 116 217 48 14-34 1427 248/540 2/17 250/557 123/168 17 116 217 18 90 10 147 634 553
Charlie Criss 1m71 33 360 44 114 28 4-24 840 130/267 5/16 135/283 76/86 1 44 114 5 30 4 52 360 339
Al Wood 1m98 23 362 90 45 29 3-26 682 140/265 3/11 143/276 73/91 13 90 45 8 40 7 68 362 321
Swen Nater 2m11 31 262 184 31 21 6-15 575 100/174 1/1 101/175 59/77 18 184 31 3 32 8 66 262 364
Joe Bryant 2m08 27 884 274 191 75 17-58 1962 333/662 7/25 340/687 194/247 33 274 191 40 126 26 243 884 889
Brian Taylor 1m89 30 443 92 225 41 14-27 1234 142/276 16/44 158/320 90/110 14 92 225 26 66 8 108 443 546
Michael Wiley 2m06 24 504 182 52 61 12-49 1013 203/355 0/4 203/359 98/141 22 182 52 12 50 10 123 504 511
John Douglas 1m88 25 447 89 145 64 13-51 1030 163/348 11/41 174/389 67/102 7 89 145 22 66 8 144 447 395
Jim Brogan 1m93 23 400 120 151 63 11-52 1027 156/335 7/27 163/362 61/85 28 120 151 25 62 10 119 400 421
Armond Hill 1m94 28 90 27 81 19 1-18 480 34/87 0/2 34/89 22/32 4 27 81 11 33 2 51 90 113
Ron Davis 1m98 27 23 13 4 7 2-5 67 10/24 0/0 10/24 3/6 2 13 4 0 4 0 8 23 19
Jim Smith 2m05 23 211 177 52 72 15-57 841 86/176 0/0 86/176 39/85 30 177 52 10 35 40 174 211 319
Rock Lee 2m10 26 2 1 2 2 0-2 10 1/2 0/0 1/2 0/4 0 1 2 0 0 0 3 2 0
Total 8896 3267 1854 82 17-65 19529 3453/6784 65/241 3518/7025 1693/2340 457 3267 1854 292 1072 226 2273 8896 9309
Opponents 9502 3274 2099 82 - 19529 3703/6883 30/119 3733/7002 1988/2646 421 3274 2099 380 956 363 2055 9502 10735
Gap -606 -7 -245 0 - 0 -250/-99 35/122 -215/23 -295/-306 36 -7 -245 -88 116 -137 218 -606 -1426
Player Height Age Pts Reb Ast GP W-L MIN 3P% FG% FT% Or Reb Ast Stl To Blk Fo Pts Eff PTS REB AST
Tom Chambers 2m09 22 18.8 7.4 2 81 16-65 36 0% 52.1% 62% 1.2 7.4 2 0.4 2.1 0.5 4.4 18.8 17.7 39 16 6
Freeman Williams 1m94 25 28.3 2.1 3 37 11-26 36 27.7% 45.3% 84.3% 0.5 2.1 3 0.6 2.8 0 3.8 28.3 17.7 32 7 5
Michael Brooks 2m01 23 16.9 8.1 3.1 82 17-65 36 0% 50.9% 75.7% 1 8.1 3.1 0.6 1.8 0.3 3.7 16.9 19.5 37 17 11
Jerome Whitehead 2m10 25 16.5 10.8 1.7 72 12-60 36 - 56.7% 76.3% 1.5 10.8 1.7 0.4 1.4 0.5 4.6 16.5 22.4 31 23 6
Phil Smith 1m94 29 16 2.9 5.5 48 14-34 36 11.8% 44.9% 73.2% 0.4 2.9 5.5 0.5 2.3 0.3 3.7 16 14 30 6 14
Charlie Criss 1m71 33 15.4 1.9 4.9 28 4-24 36 31.3% 47.7% 88.4% 0 1.9 4.9 0.2 1.3 0.2 2.2 15.4 14.5 34 3 9
Al Wood 1m98 23 19.1 4.8 2.4 29 3-26 36 27.3% 51.8% 80.2% 0.7 4.8 2.4 0.4 2.1 0.4 3.6 19.1 16.9 29 9 3
Swen Nater 2m11 31 16.4 11.5 1.9 21 6-15 36 100% 57.7% 76.6% 1.1 11.5 1.9 0.2 2 0.5 4.1 16.4 22.8 20 19 4
Joe Bryant 2m08 27 16.2 5 3.5 75 17-58 36 28% 49.5% 78.5% 0.6 5 3.5 0.7 2.3 0.5 4.5 16.2 16.3 32 12 11
Brian Taylor 1m89 30 12.9 2.7 6.6 41 14-27 36 36.4% 49.4% 81.8% 0.4 2.7 6.6 0.8 1.9 0.2 3.2 12.9 15.9 32 6 13
Michael Wiley 2m06 24 17.9 6.5 1.8 61 12-49 36 0% 56.5% 69.5% 0.8 6.5 1.8 0.4 1.8 0.4 4.4 17.9 18.2 28 9 5
John Douglas 1m88 25 15.6 3.1 5.1 64 13-51 36 26.8% 44.7% 65.7% 0.2 3.1 5.1 0.8 2.3 0.3 5 15.6 13.8 28 7 10
Jim Brogan 1m93 23 14 4.2 5.3 63 11-52 36 25.9% 45% 71.8% 1 4.2 5.3 0.9 2.2 0.4 4.2 14 14.8 24 6 10
Armond Hill 1m94 28 6.8 2 6.1 19 1-18 36 0% 38.2% 68.8% 0.3 2 6.1 0.8 2.5 0.2 3.8 6.8 8.5 13 4 10
Ron Davis 1m98 27 12.4 7 2.1 7 2-5 36 - 41.7% 50% 1.1 7 2.1 0 2.1 0 4.3 12.4 10.2 16 6 3
Jim Smith 2m05 23 9 7.6 2.2 72 15-57 36 - 48.9% 45.9% 1.3 7.6 2.2 0.4 1.5 1.7 7.4 9 13.7 13 9 6
Rock Lee 2m10 26 7.2 3.6 7.2 2 0-2 36 - 50% 0% 0 3.6 7.2 0 0 0 10.8 7.2 0 2 1 2
Total 16.4 6 3.4 82 17-65 36 27% 50.1% 72.4% 0.8 6 3.4 0.5 2 0.4 4.2 16.4 17.2
Player Height Age Pts Reb Ast GP W-L MIN 3P% FG% FT% Or Reb Ast Stl To Blk Fo Pts Eff PTS REB AST
Tom Chambers 2m09 22 20.9 8.2 2.2 81 16-65 40 0% 52.1% 62% 1.3 8.2 2.2 0.4 2.3 0.5 4.9 20.9 19.7 39 16 6
Freeman Williams 1m94 25 31.4 2.4 3.3 37 11-26 40 27.7% 45.3% 84.3% 0.6 2.4 3.3 0.7 3.1 0 4.2 31.4 19.6 32 7 5
Michael Brooks 2m01 23 18.7 9 3.4 82 17-65 40 0% 50.9% 75.7% 1.1 9 3.4 0.7 2 0.4 4.1 18.7 21.7 37 17 11
Jerome Whitehead 2m10 25 18.3 12 1.9 72 12-60 40 - 56.7% 76.3% 1.7 12 1.9 0.4 1.6 0.6 5.1 18.3 24.8 31 23 6
Phil Smith 1m94 29 17.8 3.3 6.1 48 14-34 40 11.8% 44.9% 73.2% 0.5 3.3 6.1 0.5 2.5 0.3 4.1 17.8 15.5 30 6 14
Charlie Criss 1m71 33 17.1 2.1 5.4 28 4-24 40 31.3% 47.7% 88.4% 0 2.1 5.4 0.2 1.4 0.2 2.5 17.1 16.1 34 3 9
Al Wood 1m98 23 21.2 5.3 2.6 29 3-26 40 27.3% 51.8% 80.2% 0.8 5.3 2.6 0.5 2.3 0.4 4 21.2 18.8 29 9 3
Swen Nater 2m11 31 18.2 12.8 2.2 21 6-15 40 100% 57.7% 76.6% 1.3 12.8 2.2 0.2 2.2 0.6 4.6 18.2 25.3 20 19 4
Joe Bryant 2m08 27 18 5.6 3.9 75 17-58 40 28% 49.5% 78.5% 0.7 5.6 3.9 0.8 2.6 0.5 5 18 18.1 32 12 11
Brian Taylor 1m89 30 14.4 3 7.3 41 14-27 40 36.4% 49.4% 81.8% 0.5 3 7.3 0.8 2.1 0.3 3.5 14.4 17.7 32 6 13
Michael Wiley 2m06 24 19.9 7.2 2.1 61 12-49 40 0% 56.5% 69.5% 0.9 7.2 2.1 0.5 2 0.4 4.9 19.9 20.2 28 9 5
John Douglas 1m88 25 17.4 3.5 5.6 64 13-51 40 26.8% 44.7% 65.7% 0.3 3.5 5.6 0.9 2.6 0.3 5.6 17.4 15.3 28 7 10
Jim Brogan 1m93 23 15.6 4.7 5.9 63 11-52 40 25.9% 45% 71.8% 1.1 4.7 5.9 1 2.4 0.4 4.6 15.6 16.4 24 6 10
Armond Hill 1m94 28 7.5 2.3 6.8 19 1-18 40 0% 38.2% 68.8% 0.3 2.3 6.8 0.9 2.8 0.2 4.3 7.5 9.4 13 4 10
Ron Davis 1m98 27 13.7 7.8 2.4 7 2-5 40 - 41.7% 50% 1.2 7.8 2.4 0 2.4 0 4.8 13.7 11.3 16 6 3
Jim Smith 2m05 23 10 8.4 2.5 72 15-57 40 - 48.9% 45.9% 1.4 8.4 2.5 0.5 1.7 1.9 8.3 10 15.2 13 9 6
Rock Lee 2m10 26 8 4 8 2 0-2 40 - 50% 0% 0 4 8 0 0 0 12 8 0 2 1 2
Total 18.2 6.7 3.8 82 17-65 40 27% 50.1% 72.4% 0.9 6.7 3.8 0.6 2.2 0.5 4.7 18.2 19.1
Player Height Age USG% PACE PIE PER GMSCR AST% TO% AST/TO OREB% DREB% REB%
Tom Chambers 2m09 22 22.8% 17,5 7,0 15,6 13,9 9% 11% -0.4 3% 16% 19%
Freeman Williams 1m94 25 33.9% 16,6 2,0 17,5 10,6 9% 10% 0.5 1% 2% 3%
Michael Brooks 2m01 23 20.6% 16,0 9,0 16,4 14,0 15% 10% 7.3 3% 18% 21%
Jerome Whitehead 2m10 25 17.9% 12,6 8,0 17,8 14,0 10% 10% 1.5 4% 21% 25%
Phil Smith 1m94 29 21.6% 15,0 3,0 12,6 10,7 23% 12% 17.6 1% 4% 4%
Charlie Criss 1m71 33 17.9% 12,5 2,0 14,2 10,9 25% 9% 23.9 0% 2% 2%
Al Wood 1m98 23 22.3% 12,3 2,0 15,9 9,7 11% 11% 1.4 1% 4% 4%
Swen Nater 2m11 31 17.9% 11,5 2,0 17,5 12,4 11% 13% -0.4 1% 7% 8%
Joe Bryant 2m08 27 20.1% 12,3 5,0 14,1 10,4 17% 14% 7.1 1% 11% 12%
Brian Taylor 1m89 30 15.1% 10,6 3,0 14,3 11,6 34% 15% 36.6 1% 3% 3%
Michael Wiley 2m06 24 19.9% 7,7 3,0 16,1 7,1 10% 11% 0.4 2% 11% 13%
John Douglas 1m88 25 20.8% 7,8 2,0 11,2 6,0 22% 13% 15.8 0% 6% 6%
Jim Brogan 1m93 23 19.2% 7,3 2,0 12,6 5,9 25% 13% 19.3 2% 6% 8%
Armond Hill 1m94 28 12.1% 7,2 0 6,1 5,5 37% 24% 35.3 0% 1% 1%
Ron Davis 1m98 27 19.6% 4,4 0 6,2 2,2 12% 13% 0 0% 1% 2%
Jim Smith 2m05 23 12.6% 3,5 1,0 8,5 3,9 17% 14% 6.8 3% 14% 17%
Rock Lee 2m10 26 16.1% 1,9 0 -0,1 1,2 35% 0% 53.2 0% 0% 0%
Player Height Age eFG% TS% 3PAr FTr %FGA/2PTm %FGA/3PTm %FGA/FTm %PTS/2PTm %PTS/3PTm %PTS/FTm PTS/2PTm PTS/3PTm
Tom Chambers 2m09 22 65,5% 55,0% 0,2% 43,1% 69,8% 0,1% 30,1% 79,6% 0% 20,4% 1.04 0
Freeman Williams 1m94 25 57,3% 55,1% 9,6% 28,5% 70,4% 7,4% 22,2% 68,9% 6,4% 19,3% 0.94 0.83
Michael Brooks 2m01 23 60,5% 54,4% 0,4% 25,3% 79,5% 0,3% 20,2% 84,2% 0% 15,8% 1.02 0
Jerome Whitehead 2m10 25 69,6% 60,6% 0% 33,7% 74,8% 0% 25,2% 81,5% 0% 18,5% 1.13 0
Phil Smith 1m94 29 55,9% 50,2% 3,1% 30,2% 74,5% 2,3% 23,2% 78,2% 0,9% 19,4% 0.92 0.35
Charlie Criss 1m71 33 61,1% 56,1% 5,7% 30,4% 72,4% 4,3% 23,3% 72,2% 4,2% 21,1% 0.97 0.94
Al Wood 1m98 23 65,0% 57,3% 4,0% 33,0% 72,2% 3,0% 24,8% 77,3% 2,5% 20,2% 1.06 0.82
Swen Nater 2m11 31 74,6% 62,7% 0,6% 44,0% 69,0% 0,4% 30,6% 76,3% 1,1% 22,5% 1.15 3
Joe Bryant 2m08 27 63,6% 55,5% 3,6% 36,0% 70,9% 2,7% 26,4% 75,3% 2,4% 21,9% 1.01 0.84
Brian Taylor 1m89 30 63,4% 60,1% 13,8% 34,4% 64,2% 10,2% 25,6% 64,1% 10,8% 20,3% 1.03 1.09
Michael Wiley 2m06 24 70,2% 59,9% 1,1% 39,3% 71,0% 0,8% 28,2% 80,6% 0% 19,4% 1.14 0
John Douglas 1m88 25 53,3% 51,5% 10,5% 26,2% 70,9% 8,4% 20,8% 72,9% 7,4% 15,0% 0.94 0.8
Jim Brogan 1m93 23 53,5% 50,1% 7,5% 23,5% 74,9% 6,0% 19,0% 78,0% 5,3% 15,3% 0.93 0.78
Armond Hill 1m94 28 50,6% 43,7% 2,2% 36,0% 71,9% 1,7% 26,4% 75,6% 0% 24,4% 0.78 0
Ron Davis 1m98 27 47,9% 43,2% 0% 25,0% 80,0% 0% 20,0% 87,0% 0% 13,0% 0.83 0
Jim Smith 2m05 23 59,9% 49,4% 0% 48,3% 67,4% 0% 32,6% 81,5% 0% 18,5% 0.98 0
Rock Lee 2m10 26 50,0% 26,6% 0% 200,0% 33,3% 0% 66,7% 100,0% 0% 0% 1 0
Player Height Age %MIN %PTS %FGM %FGA %2PM %2PA %3PM %3PA %FTM %FTA %OREB %DREB %REB %AST %TOV %STL %BLK %BLKA %PF %PFD %+/- %EFF
Tom Chambers 2m09 22 82% 16% 16% 15% 16% 16% 0% 1% 17% 20% 19% 17% 17% 8% 15% 9% 15% - 15% - - 14%
Freeman Williams 1m94 25 52% 15% 14% 16% 13% 15% 44% 43% 15% 13% 5% 3% 3% 8% 13% 10% 0% - 8% - - 9%
Michael Brooks 2m01 23 83% 14% 15% 15% 16% 15% 0% 2% 12% 11% 17% 19% 19% 12% 13% 17% 12% - 12% - - 16%
Jerome Whitehead 2m10 25 76% 13% 13% 12% 13% 12% 0% 0% 12% 12% 23% 23% 23% 6% 9% 9% 17% - 14% - - 17%
Phil Smith 1m94 29 74% 12% 12% 14% 12% 14% 5% 12% 12% 12% 6% 6% 6% 20% 14% 11% 8% - 11% - - 10%
Charlie Criss 1m71 33 75% 12% 11% 12% 11% 12% 23% 19% 13% 11% 1% 4% 4% 18% 8% 5% 5% - 7% - - 11%
Al Wood 1m98 23 59% 12% 11% 11% 11% 11% 13% 13% 12% 11% 8% 8% 8% 7% 11% 8% 9% - 8% - - 10%
Swen Nater 2m11 31 68% 12% 11% 10% 11% 10% 6% 2% 14% 13% 15% 23% 22% 7% 12% 4% 14% - 11% - - 15%
Joe Bryant 2m08 27 65% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 12% 11% 13% 12% 8% 9% 9% 11% 13% 15% 13% - 12% - - 10%
Brian Taylor 1m89 30 75% 10% 9% 9% 8% 8% 49% 37% 11% 9% 6% 6% 6% 24% 12% 18% 7% - 10% - - 12%
Michael Wiley 2m06 24 42% 8% 8% 7% 8% 7% 0% 2% 8% 8% 6% 8% 7% 4% 6% 6% 6% - 7% - - 7%
John Douglas 1m88 25 40% 6% 6% 7% 6% 7% 22% 22% 5% 6% 2% 4% 3% 10% 8% 10% 5% - 8% - - 5%
Jim Brogan 1m93 23 41% 6% 6% 7% 6% 6% 14% 15% 5% 5% 8% 4% 5% 11% 8% 11% 6% - 7% - - 6%
Armond Hill 1m94 28 63% 4% 4% 5% 4% 6% 0% 4% 6% 6% 4% 4% 4% 19% 13% 16% 4% - 10% - - 5%
Ron Davis 1m98 27 24% 3% 3% 4% 3% 4% 0% 0% 2% 3% 5% 5% 5% 3% 4% 0% 0% - 4% - - 2%
Jim Smith 2m05 23 29% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 0% 0% 3% 4% 7% 6% 6% 3% 4% 4% 20% - 9% - - 4%
Rock Lee 2m10 26 13% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 0% 0% 0% 7% 0% 1% 1% 4% 0% 0% 0% - 5% - - 0%

Los Angeles Clippers History

Living in the shadow of the world-famous Los Angeles Lakers is a tough assignment. An impossible one some might say. Of course, the numbers are cruel and the Clippers have never won a championship in their history and have been regarded as one of the worst teams of all time. Yet, the reputation has changed since 2010 and new owner Steve Ballmer has its eyes set on becoming a champion.

So far away from L.A.

The story of the Clippers started very far away from California. The Buffalo Braves, in the state of New York, were one of the three expansion teams that started playing in 1970, along with the Portland Trailblazers and Cleveland Cavaliers. The team lost 60, 60 and 61 games in its first three seasons, despite welcoming North Carolina star Bob MacAdoo in 1972. In fact, MacAdoo was so frustrated by the losses that he later commented that his wife could have outrun his teammates. Things got better quickly as the Braves, coached by Jack Ramsay, enjoyed three consecutive playoffs campaigns, relying on the spectacular play of MacAdoo. The power forward/center with an almost unblockable turnaround jumpshot led the NBA in scoring each of these years and was named MVP in 1975.

But the turnaround did not last long. The Braves shared their arena with the basketball team from Canisius College. Scheduling home games proved to be a complicated task. Owner Paul Snyder grew tired of the situation and sold the team to John Y. Brown who made a bold business move by trading away his stars, including MacAdoo, and swapped franchise ownership with Celtics’ owner Irv Levin in 1978. Levin was a film producer who had every intention to move the team to its native California.

A move to California

The Braves relocated to San Diego that year and a naming contest ultimately decided on "Clippers" as a new name, in reference to the city being known for the great sailing ships that passed through San Diego Bay. The move was a success as the Clippers won 43 games during their first season in the West behind the stellar play of guard World B. Free, who finished second in the League in scoring with 28.9 points per game. Lloyd Bernard Free had earned his nickname from his high school days in Brooklyn because of his incredible leaping abilities. He became a fan favorite and was joined the following season by center Bill Walton, a former NBA champion and MVP. A spectacular addition that delivered little results. In his first season with San Diego, Walton played 14 games for the Clippers before fracturing the navicular bone in his left foot, therefore missing all of the 1980–81 and 1981–82 seasons. The local hero who played college ball at UCLA fought through extensive rehabilitation to eventually return to the court. He played three seasons with the Clippers who never finished near .500 or made the playoffs in his tenure.

In 1984, two years after buying the franchise, real estate mogul Donald Sterling moved the Clippers to Los Angeles without the NBA approval. The League fined Sterling 25 million dollars and filed a lawsuit demanding the franchise to be returned to San Diego, threatening to dissolve the team. The two sides reached an agreement and the Clippers began playing in L.A. racking up losses with remarkable continuity.

Anything but joining the Clippers

Its star players kept falling down to injuries: Derek Smith, Norm Nixon, Marques Johnson or Danny Manning. The Clippers lost 70, 65 and 61 games between 1986 and 1989. The franchise’s reputation was so awful that Danny Ferry, the first pick of the draft out of Duke, chose to sign in Italy, with Messagero Roma, in order to avoid signing a contract in Los Angeles. He was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for guard Ron Harper.

With Harper, forwards Ken Norman and Charles Smith, as well as the arrival of head coach Larry Brown, the Clippers found respectability. In 1992, 16 years after their last appearance they returned to the playoffs and pushed the Utah Jazz to a fifth and deciding game in the first round. They repeated the achievement a year later, this time losing in five games to the Houston Rockets.

Former number one draft pick Danny Manning led the charge. NCAA champion and Final Four Most Outstanding Player with Kansas in 1988, his NBA debut was derailed by a knee injury. But patiently, Manning came back into shape averaging 22.8 points per game in 1992-93, making the All-Star Game and 23.7 points per game through the first 42 games of the 1993-94 season. That is when the Clippers traded Manning to the Atlanta Hawks for Dominique Wilkins. The trade was a disappointment for both sides as the Hawks, conference leader at that time, lost in the conference semifinals. The Clippers only won 27 games overall and Wilkins left for the Boston Celtics after a few months.

Another dark period started for the Clippers who went through 12 consecutive losing seasons. The team failed to build an identity and became synonymous with terrible draft choices, highlighted by the selection of center Michael Olowokandi with the first pick in 1998.

Young and spectacular

Their fortune changed in the early 2000. Results remained modest but the Clippers found a new popularity by putting together a young and spectacular squad and moving to Staples Center, sharing the building with the Lakers. Quentin Richardson, Darius Miles, and Lamar Odom never made it to the playoffs but they brought a breath of fresh air to the franchise. Odom was the prototype of a new brand of basketball. A 6-10 athlete able to play any position on the court, including point-guard. But despite adding substantial firepower with Elton Brand and Andre Miller, the Clippers could not reach the postseason because of poor team chemistry and injuries.

The 2005–06 season was a turning point for the team's image and the front office strategy. The team chose to rely on veterans welcoming former NBA champion Sam Cassell. With Brand, Corey Maggette or Cuttino Mobley, they showed significant improvement, achieving their first winning record in 14 seasons, and clinched their first playoff spot since 1997. They also finished with a better record than the Lakers for the second straight year and secured home-court advantage over the Denver Nuggets. The Clippers made it to the second round and pushed the Phoenix Suns to seven games. General Manager Elgin Baylor won the NBA Executive of the Year that season.

Lob city

This run had no tomorrow and the Clippers returned to the bottom of the standings. In December of 2011 a trade changed their fate. Chris Paul arrived from the New Orleans Hornets and proved to be the perfect complement to the first pick of the draft Blake Griffin and young center DeAndre Jordan. The team gained the nickname Lob City as one spectacular dunk followed an incredible alley-oop. Griffin quickly became an All-Star and managed to expand his game not only relying on his amazing athleticism.

Despite winning 56 games during the 2012/13 season, the Clippers did not renew the contract of coach Vinny Del Negro and hired Doc Rivers. He led the team to 57 wins and the second round of the playoffs, losing to the Thunder. Yet the summer was marked by controversy from owner Donald Sterling. Already accused of racist behavior in the past, Sterling was taped making derogatory remarks to his wife. The incident caused a public backlash and the NBA issued Sterling a lifetime ban and Steve Ballmer a former CEO of Microsoft bought the franchise for 2 billion dollars! During his first season at the helm, the Clippers once again won 56 games, eliminated the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs, winning the series in the seventh game on a game-winning shot by Paul with one second left. In the next series against the second-seeded Houston Rockets, they took a 3–1 series lead only to lose the next three games.

The Clippers’ new owner’s ambition is clearly to bring a championship to Los Angeles. He plans on building a new arena for his team and quickly hired Jerry West as a special consultant. When the Lob City era ended, a rebuilding period was expected to start. But the Clippers quickly rebounded. In the summer of 2019, they showed their new power of attraction by signing free-agent Kawhi Leonard. A few days later they acquired Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder, assembling one of the best one-two punch in the League.