1994–95 Los Angeles Clippers season

Last updated

1994–95   Los Angeles Clippers season
Head coach Bill Fitch
Owners Donald Sterling
Arena Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Arrowhead Pond
Results
Record1765 (.207)
PlaceDivision: 7th (Pacific)
Conference: 13th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Local media
Television KCOP-TV
(Ralph Lawler, Bill Walton)
Radio KMPC
(Rory Markas)
< 1993–94 1995–96 >

The 1994–95 Los Angeles Clippers season was the 25th season for the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association, their eleventh season in Los Angeles, California, and their first season in which they played occasional home games in Anaheim, California. [1] The Clippers received the seventh overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, and selected small forward Lamond Murray from the University of California. [2] [3] [4] During the off-season, the team acquired Pooh Richardson, Malik Sealy, and rookie shooting guard, and top draft pick Eric Piatkowski out of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from the Indiana Pacers, [5] [6] [7] and signed free agent Tony Massenburg. [8]

Contents

The Clippers started the regular season playing their first two games overseas against the Portland Trail Blazers in Yokohama, Japan. [9] [10] [11] However, under new head coach Bill Fitch, [12] [13] the team struggled losing their first 16 games of the season, as Stanley Roberts missed the entire season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. [14] [15] The Clippers held an 8–40 record at the All-Star break, [16] and finished in last place in the Pacific Division with the league's worst record at 17–65. [17]

Loy Vaught continued to show improvement as he averaged 17.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, while Murray averaged 14.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, but was not named to an NBA All-Rookie Team at season's end, and Richardson provided the team with 10.9 points, 7.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game. In addition, Sealy contributed 13.0 points per game, while second-year guard Terry Dehere provided with 10.4 points per game off the bench, Massenburg averaged 9.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, Piatkowski contributed 7.0 points per game off the bench, and second-year forward Bo Outlaw provided with 5.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. [18]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, Murray was selected for the NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the White team. [19] [20] The only highlight of the regular season was the Clippers defeating their crosstown rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, 109–84 at the Great Western Forum on December 9, 1994, which was their second win of the season. [21] [22] [23]

Following the season, Gary Grant was released to free agency, and signed as a free agent with the New York Knicks during the next season, [24] [25] while Massenburg was left unprotected in the 1995 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Toronto Raptors expansion team, [26] [27] [28] and Elmore Spencer was traded to the Denver Nuggets.

Draft

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
17 Lamond Murray SFFlag of the United States.svg United States California
125 Greg Minor SG/SFFlag of the United States.svg United States Louisville

Roster

1994–95 Los Angeles Clippers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.PlayerHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 24 Terry Dehere 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)190 lb (86 kg)1971–09–12 Seton Hall
G/F 30 Harold Ellis 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)200 lb (91 kg)1970–10–07 Morehouse
G 23 Gary Grant 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg)1965–04–21 Michigan
C 9 Tony Massenburg 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)220 lb (100 kg)1967–07–31 Maryland
F 7 Lamond Murray 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)236 lb (107 kg)1973–04–20 California
F 45 Bo Outlaw 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg)1971–04–13 Houston
G 52 Eric Piatkowski 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg)1970–09–30 Nebraska
G 2 Pooh Richardson 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)180 lb (82 kg)1966–05–14 UCLA
C 42 Eric Riley 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)245 lb (111 kg)1970–06–02 Michigan
C 53 Stanley Roberts  (IN)7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)285 lb (129 kg)1970–02–07 LSU
G/F 21 Malik Sealy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)190 lb (86 kg)1970–02–01 St. John's
F 4 Michael Smith 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)225 lb (102 kg)1965–05–19 BYU
C 27 Elmore Spencer 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)270 lb (122 kg)1969–12–06 UNLV
F 35 Loy Vaught 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)230 lb (104 kg)1968–02–27 Michigan
G 14 Randy Woods 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)185 lb (84 kg)1970–09–23 La Salle
Head coach
Assistant(s)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injury icon 2.svg Injured

Roster

Roster notes

Regular season

Season standings

W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y- Phoenix Suns 5923.72032–927–1423–7
x- Seattle SuperSonics 5725.695232–925–1616–14
x- Los Angeles Lakers 4834.5851129–1219–2215–15
x- Portland Trail Blazers 4438.5371526–1518–2317–13
Sacramento Kings 3943.4762027–1412–2917–13
Golden State Warriors 2656.3173315–2611–3011–19
Los Angeles Clippers 1765.2074213–284–376–24
#
Team W L PCT GB
1z-San Antonio Spurs 6220.756
2y-Phoenix Suns 5923.7203
3x-Utah Jazz 6022.7322
4x-Seattle SuperSonics 5725.6955
5x-Los Angeles Lakers 4834.58514
6x-Houston Rockets 4735.57315
7x-Portland Trail Blazers 4438.53718
8x-Denver Nuggets 4141.50021
9 Sacramento Kings 3943.47623
10 Dallas Mavericks 3646.43926
11 Golden State Warriors 2656.31736
12 Minnesota Timberwolves 2161.25641
13 Los Angeles Clippers 1765.20745
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

1994–95 game log
Total: 17–65 (Home: 13–28; Road: 4–37)
November: 0–13 (home: 0–6; road: 0–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
December: 4–12 (home: 2–7; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
January: 3–12 (home: 2–4; road: 1–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
February: 4–9 (home: 4–2; road: 0–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
48February 9, 1995
7:30 p.m. PST
Houston W 122–107 Vaught (33) Vaught (13) Richardson (14) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
7,178
8–40
All-Star Break
49February 14, 1995
57:30 p.m. PST
@ Houston L 104–124 Vaught (20) Outlaw (11) Woods (11) The Summit
15,071
8–41
March: 3–12 (home: 3–6; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
72March 30, 1995
7:30 p.m. PST
Houston L 96–108 Murray (26) Vaught (16) Richardson (8) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
11,561
14–58
April: 3–7 (home: 2–3; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
79April 17, 1995
5:30 p.m. PDT
@ Houston L 111–121 Dehere (23) Vaught (12) Dehere (10) The Summit
16,027
16–63
1994–95 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG  Points per game
PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Loy Vaught 807937.151.421.271.09.71.71.30.417.5
Lamond Murray 816131.640.229.875.44.41.60.90.714.1
Malik Sealy 604126.743.530.178.03.61.81.20.413.0
Pooh Richardson 807735.839.435.764.83.37.91.60.210.9
Terry Dehere 802822.240.729.478.41.92.80.60.110.4
Tony Massenburg 805026.646.90.075.35.70.80.60.79.3
Eric Piatkowski 811114.944.137.478.31.61.00.50.27.0
Elmore Spencer 19819.444.10.056.03.41.30.71.26.9
Gary Grant 33214.247.025.081.81.12.80.90.16.2
Michael Smith 29011.047.012.586.71.90.70.20.15.3
Bo Outlaw 813120.452.30.044.13.91.01.11.95.2
Matt Fish 26814.247.60.067.63.20.70.60.34.7
Eric Riley 40410.944.80.073.42.80.30.40.94.4
Harold Ellis 6979.548.17.759.01.30.61.00.23.7
Bob Martin 1014.020.00.00.02.01.00.01.02.0
Randy Woods 6238.031.629.773.70.72.20.70.02.0

Player statistics citation: [18]

Transactions

The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1994–95 season.

Trades

June 30, 1994 To Los Angeles Clippers
To Indiana Pacers

Free agents

Player Transactions Citation: [29]

See also

Other Anaheim–based teams in 1994–95

*Note: The Clippers played occasional games in Anaheim

References

  1. 1994-95 Los Angeles Clippers
  2. Brown, Clifton (June 30, 1994). "BASKETBALL; The Bucks Go with Robinson as No. 1 Pick". The New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  3. Baker, Chris (June 30, 1994). "NBA DRAFT: Clippers Select Murray: Pro Basketball: Cal Forward Drafted Amid Rumors of Impending Mark Jackson Trade". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  4. "1994 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  5. Brown, Clifton (July 1, 1994). "PRO BASKETBALL; Mark Jackson Acquired by Pacers". The New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  6. Baker, Chris (July 1, 1994). "This Way Is OK for Pooh: Clippers: Richardson Is Glad to Be Back in Los Angeles After Being Obtained in Trade That Sends Jackson to Pacers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  7. "Richardson, Jackson Switch Teams in Clippers-Pacers Deal". Tampa Bay Times. July 1, 1994. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  8. Penner, Mike (October 19, 1994). "Clippers Are Better Than Empty Pond". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  9. "Clippers and Blazers to Open NBA Season in Japan". United Press International. July 7, 1994. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  10. "Change of Hemisphere Doesn't Help Clippers". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. November 5, 1994. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  11. "Clippers End Poor Foreign Experience: Pro Basketball: Twenty-Five Turnovers Are Key Factor in a 112-95 Loss to the Trail Blazers". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. November 6, 1994. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  12. Baker, Chris (July 28, 1994). "Clippers Call on Fitch to Rebuild: Pro Basketball: Veteran Coach with Reputation of Helping Mediocre Clubs Will Return to NBA After Two-Year Break". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  13. Bonk, Thomas (October 28, 1994). "They Are Voices of Experience: NBA Teams Turn Back the Clock by Hiring Dick Motta (63), Bill Fitch (60), and Del Harris (57)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  14. Baker, Chris (October 27, 1994). "Clippers' Roberts Sidelined for Season: Pro Basketball: Center Ruptures Left Achilles' Tendon. He Ruptured the Right Achilles' Last Season". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  15. Baker, Chris (October 29, 1994). "CLIPPERS: Roberts Has Surgery on Achilles' Tendon". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  16. "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1995". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  17. "1994–95 Los Angeles Clippers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  18. 1 2 "1994–95 Los Angeles Clippers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  19. "Basketball". The Tuscaloosa News. February 11, 1995. p. 2C. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  20. "1995 NBA Rising Stars: White 83, Green 79 (OT)". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  21. "BASEBALL; No Stopping the Clippers Now". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 10, 1994. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  22. Downey, Mike (December 11, 1994). "Lakers Out of Sync, So Clippers Put It in the Refrigerator". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  23. "Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, December 9, 1994". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  24. Heisler, Mark (November 26, 1995). "THE NBA / MARK HEISLER: New Kids Don't Get Bullied by Anybody". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  25. Wise, Mike (December 17, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Grant Gets a Kick Out of Club Knick". The New York Times. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  26. Wise, Mike (June 25, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Anthony Is No. 2 of the Secaucus 27". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  27. Heisler, Mark (June 25, 1995). "Armstrong Becomes Top Expansion Pick: NBA: Raptors Take Guard from Bulls. Massenburg Also Headed to Toronto, While Lakers Lose Harvey to Vancouver". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  28. "1995 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  29. "1994–95 Los Angeles Clippers Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 14, 2021.