The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and are a member of the NBA Western Conference's Pacific Division. The Clippers were founded in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves. They were one of three franchises that joined the NBA as an expansion team in the 1970–71 season. The Braves moved to San Diego, California after the 1977–78 season, and became known as the San Diego Clippers. [1] For the 1984–85 NBA season, the Clippers moved north to Los Angeles and became known as the Los Angeles Clippers.
On October 14, 1970, the Braves beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 107–92 in their first game. [1] In the 1972 NBA draft, the Braves selected Bob McAdoo, [2] who later won such awards as Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player. [3] During McAdoo's years (1972–76) with the franchise, [4] the Braves reached the post-season three times and had a record of nine wins and 13 losses during that time.
Overall, the Clippers have qualified for the post-season sixteen times; most recently in the 2020–21 season. They passed the first round of the playoffs seven times (1975–76, 2005–06, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2019–20 and 2020–21). The Clippers have never won league or Conference titles. Their 51-year drought between entering Western Conference finals (before doing so in 2020–21) is one of the longest in league history and the 30-year drought between winning a playoffs round (before doing so in 2005–06) is the longest in league history. [5] They also have only sixteen seasons with a winning percentage of .500 or better, and as a result, in their April 17, 2000 issue, the Sports Illustrated had three Clippers fans on the cover that stated "The worst franchise in sports history". [6] A decade later, the additions of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul helped them win their first division title during the 2012–13 season, their 43rd year in the league, and they repeated the feat the following year. [7] Paul and Griffin departed in 2017, and after a short transition period, the Clippers signed All-Stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in 2019.
Finish | Final position in league or division standings |
GB | Games behind first-place team in division [lower-alpha 1] |
ASG MVP | All-Star Game Most Valuable Player |
EOY | Executive of the Year |
MVP | Most Valuable Player |
ROY | Rookie of the Year |
MIP | Most Improved Player |
W | Number of regular season wins |
L | Number of regular season losses |
Note: Statistics are correct as of the end of the 2022–23 season.
League champions | Conference champions | Division champions | Playoff berth | Play-in berth |
Season | Team | League | Conference | Finish | Division | Finish | Wins | Losses | Win% | GB | Playoffs | Awards | Head Coach | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buffalo Braves | |||||||||||||||
1970–71 | 1970–71 | NBA | Eastern | 7th | Atlantic | 4th | 22 | 60 | .268 | 30 | — | Dolph Schayes | |||
1971–72 | 1971–72 | NBA | Eastern | 8th | Atlantic | 4th | 22 | 60 | .268 | 34 | — | Dolph Schayes Johnny McCarthy | |||
1972–73 | 1972–73 | NBA | Eastern | 7th | Atlantic | 3rd | 21 | 61 | .256 | 47 | Bob McAdoo (ROY) | Jack Ramsay | |||
1973–74 | 1973–74 | NBA | Eastern | 4th | Atlantic | 3rd | 42 | 40 | .512 | 14 | Lost conference semifinals (Celtics) 4–2 [9] | Ernie DiGregorio (ROY) Eddie Donovan (EOY) | |||
1974–75 | 1974–75 | NBA | Eastern | 3rd | Atlantic | 2nd | 49 | 33 | .598 | 11 | Lost conference semifinals (Bullets) 4–3 [10] | Bob McAdoo (MVP) | |||
1975–76 | 1975–76 | NBA | Eastern | 5th | Atlantic | 2nd | 46 | 36 | .561 | 8 | Won First round (76ers) 2–1 Lost conference semifinals (Celtics) 4–2 [11] | — | |||
1976–77 | 1976–77 | NBA | Eastern | 10th | Atlantic | 4th | 30 | 52 | .366 | 20 | Adrian Dantley (ROY) | Tates Locke Bob MacKinnon Joe Mullaney | |||
1977–78 | 1977–78 | NBA | Eastern | 10th | Atlantic | 4th | 27 | 55 | .329 | 28 | Randy Smith (ASG MVP) | Cotton Fitzsimmons | |||
San Diego Clippers | |||||||||||||||
1978–79 | 1978–79 [lower-alpha 2] | NBA | Western | 7th | Pacific | 5th | 43 | 39 | .524 | 9 | — | Gene Shue | |||
1979–80 | 1979–80 | NBA | Western | 7th | Pacific | 5th | 35 | 47 | .427 | 25 | — | ||||
1980–81 | 1980–81 | NBA | Western | 9th | Pacific | 5th | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21 | — | Paul Silas | |||
1981–82 | 1981–82 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 6th | 17 | 65 | .207 | 40 | — | ||||
1982–83 | 1982–83 | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 6th | 25 | 57 | .305 | 33 | Terry Cummings (ROY) | ||||
1983–84 | 1983–84 | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 6th | 30 | 52 | .366 | 24 | — | Jim Lynam | |||
Los Angeles Clippers | |||||||||||||||
1984–85 | 1984–85 [lower-alpha 3] | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 4th | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 | — | Jim Lynam Don Chaney | |||
1985–86 | 1985–86 | NBA | Western | 10th | Pacific | 3rd | 32 | 50 | .390 | 30 | — | Don Chaney | |||
1986–87 | 1986–87 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 6th | 12 | 70 | .146 | 53 | — | ||||
1987–88 | 1987–88 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 6th | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 | — | Gene Shue | |||
1988–89 | 1988–89 | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 7th | 21 | 61 | .256 | 36 | — | Gene Shue Don Casey | |||
1989–90 | 1989–90 | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 6th | 30 | 52 | .366 | 33 | — | Don Casey | |||
1990–91 | 1990–91 | NBA | Western | 10th | Pacific | 6th | 31 | 51 | .378 | 32 | — | Mike Schuler | |||
1991–92 | 1991–92 | NBA | Western | 7th | Pacific | 5th | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 | Lost First round (Jazz) 3–2 [12] | — | Mike Schuler Mack Calvin Larry Brown | ||
1992–93 | 1992–93 | NBA | Western | 7th | Pacific | 4th | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 | Lost First round (Rockets) 3–2 [13] | — | Larry Brown | ||
1993–94 | 1993–94 | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 7th | 27 | 55 | .329 | 36 | — | Bob Weiss | |||
1994–95 | 1994–95 | NBA | Western | 13th | Pacific | 7th | 17 | 65 | .207 | 42 | — | Bill Fitch | |||
1995–96 | 1995–96 | NBA | Western | 11th | Pacific | 7th | 29 | 53 | .354 | 35 | — | ||||
1996–97 | 1996–97 | NBA | Western | 8th | Pacific | 5th | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21 | Lost First round (Jazz) 3–0 [14] | — | |||
1997–98 | 1997–98 | NBA | Western | 13th | Pacific | 7th | 17 | 65 | .207 | 44 | — | ||||
1998–99 [lower-alpha 4] | 1998–99 | NBA | Western | 13th | Pacific | 7th | 9 | 41 | .180 | 26 | — | Chris Ford | |||
1999–00 | 1999–2000 | NBA | Western | 14th | Pacific | 7th | 15 | 67 | .183 | 52 | — | Chris Ford Jim Todd | |||
2000–01 | 2000–01 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 6th | 31 | 51 | .378 | 25 | — | Alvin Gentry | |||
2001–02 | 2001–02 | NBA | Western | 9th | Pacific | 5th | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 | — | ||||
2002–03 | 2002–03 | NBA | Western | 13th | Pacific | 7th | 27 | 55 | .329 | 32 | — | Alvin Gentry Dennis Johnson | |||
2003–04 | 2003–04 | NBA | Western | 14th | Pacific | 7th | 28 | 54 | .341 | 28 | — | Mike Dunleavy | |||
2004–05 | 2004–05 | NBA | Western | 10th | Pacific | 3rd | 37 | 45 | .451 | 25 | Bobby Simmons (MIP) | ||||
2005–06 | 2005–06 | NBA | Western | 6th | Pacific | 2nd | 47 | 35 | .573 | 7 | Won First round (Nuggets) 4–1 Lost conference semifinals (Suns) 4–3 [16] | Elgin Baylor (EOY) Elton Brand (SPOR) | |||
2006–07 | 2006–07 | NBA | Western | 9th | Pacific | 4th | 40 | 42 | .488 | 21 | — | ||||
2007–08 | 2007–08 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 5th | 23 | 59 | .280 | 34 | — | ||||
2008–09 | 2008–09 | NBA | Western | 14th | Pacific | 4th | 19 | 63 | .232 | 46 | — | ||||
2009–10 | 2009–10 | NBA | Western | 12th | Pacific | 3rd | 29 | 53 | .354 | 28 | — | Mike Dunleavy Kim Hughes | |||
2010–11 | 2010–11 | NBA | Western | 13th | Pacific | 4th | 32 | 50 | .390 | 25 | Blake Griffin (ROY) | Vinny Del Negro | |||
2011–12 [lower-alpha 5] | 2011–12 | NBA | Western | 5th | Pacific | 2nd | 40 | 26 | .606 | 1 | Won First round (Grizzlies) 4–3 Lost conference semifinals (Spurs) 4–0 [18] | — | |||
2012–13 | 2012–13 | NBA | Western | 4th | Pacific | 1st | 56 | 26 | .683 | – | Lost First round (Grizzlies) 4–2 [19] | Chris Paul (ASG MVP) | |||
2013–14 | 2013–14 | NBA | Western | 3rd | Pacific | 1st | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | Won First round (Warriors) 4–3 Lost conference semifinals (Thunder) 4–2 [20] | Jamal Crawford (SIX) | Doc Rivers | ||
2014–15 | 2014–15 | NBA | Western | 3rd | Pacific | 2nd | 56 | 26 | .683 | 11 | Won First round (Spurs) 4–3 Lost conference semifinals (Rockets) 4–3 [21] | — | |||
2015–16 | 2015–16 | NBA | Western | 4th | Pacific | 2nd | 53 | 29 | .646 | 20 | Lost First round (Trail Blazers) 4–2 [22] | Jamal Crawford (SIX) | |||
2016–17 | 2016–17 | NBA | Western | 4th | Pacific | 2nd | 51 | 31 | .622 | 16 | Lost First round (Jazz) 4–3 [23] | — | |||
2017–18 | 2017–18 | NBA | Western | 10th | Pacific | 2nd | 42 | 40 | .512 | 16 | Lou Williams (SIX) | ||||
2018–19 | 2018-19 | NBA | Western | 8th | Pacific | 2nd | 48 | 34 | .585 | 9 | Lost First round (Warriors) 4–2 [24] | Lou Williams (SIX) | |||
2019–20 | 2019–20 | NBA | Western | 2nd | Pacific | 2nd | 49 | 23 | .681 | 3.5 | Won First round (Mavericks) 4–2 Lost conference semifinals (Nuggets) 4–3 [25] | Montrezl Harrell (SIX) Lawrence Frank (EOY) Kawhi Leonard (ASG MVP) | |||
2020–21 | 2020–21 | NBA | Western | 4th | Pacific | 2nd | 47 | 25 | .653 | 4 | Won First round (Mavericks) 4–3 Won conference semifinals (Jazz) 4–2 Lost conference finals (Suns) 4–2 [26] | — | Tyronn Lue | ||
2021–22 | 2021–22 | NBA | Western | 9th [lower-alpha 6] | Pacific | 3rd | 42 | 40 | .512 | 22 | — | ||||
2022–23 | 2022–23 | NBA | Western | 5th | Pacific | 3rd | 44 | 38 | .537 | 4 | Lost First round (Suns) 4–1 [28] | — | |||
2023–24 | 2023–24 | NBA | Western | 4th | Pacific | 1st | 51 | 31 | .622 | – | Lost First round (Mavericks) 4–2 | — | |||
Note: Statistics are correct as of the end of the 2023–24 season.
Statistic | Wins | Losses | W–L% |
---|---|---|---|
Buffalo Braves regular season record (1970–1978) | 259 | 397 | .395 |
San Diego Clippers regular season record (1978–1984) | 186 | 306 | .378 |
Los Angeles Clippers regular season record (1984–present) | 1,398 | 1,814 | .435 |
All-time regular season record | 1,843 | 2,517 | .423 |
Buffalo Braves post-season record (1970–1978) | 9 | 13 | .409 |
San Diego Clippers post-season record (1978–1984) | 0 | 0 | — |
Los Angeles Clippers post-season record (1984–present) | 56 | 70 | .077 |
All-time post-season record | 65 | 83 | .439 |
All-time regular and post-season record | 1,908 | 2,600 | .423 |
The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The Clippers will play in the Intuit Dome starting in the 2024–25 NBA season. They have previously played their home games at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles from 1999 to 2024, which they had shared with NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL).
The Buffalo Braves were an American professional basketball franchise based in Buffalo, New York. The Braves competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member club of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division from 1970 until 1978. In 1978, Braves owner John Y. Brown Jr. swapped franchises with then-Boston Celtics owner Irv Levin, who then moved the team to San Diego, where it was renamed the San Diego Clippers. The franchise relocated to Los Angeles in 1984, becoming the Los Angeles Clippers.
Robert Allen McAdoo Jr. is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he was a five-time NBA All-Star and named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1975. He won two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers during their Showtime era in the 1980s. In 2000, McAdoo was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
The 1998–99 NBA season was the 29th season of the National Basketball Association in Cleveland, Ohio. On March 23, 1998, the owners of all 29 NBA teams voted 27–2 to reopen the league's collective bargaining agreement, seeking changes to the league's salary cap system, and a ceiling on individual player salaries. The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) opposed to the owners' plan, and wanted raises for players who earned the league's minimum salary. After both sides failed to reach an agreement, the owners called for a lockout, which began on July 1, 1998, putting a hold on all team trades, free agent signings and training camp workouts, and cancelling many NBA regular season and preseason games. Due to the lockout, the NBA All-Star Game, which was scheduled to be played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 14, 1999, was also cancelled. However, on January 6, 1999, NBA commissioner David Stern, and NBPA director Billy Hunter finally reached an agreement to end the lockout. The deal was approved by both the players and owners, and was signed on January 20, ending the lockout after 204 days. The regular season began on February 5, and was cut short to just 50 games instead of the regular 82-game schedule.
The 1973–74 Buffalo Braves season was the fourth season for the expansion Buffalo Braves franchise in the National Basketball Association and its Atlantic Division. It was the team's second season under head coach Jack Ramsay. The team's official home arena was Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.
The 1975–76 Buffalo Braves season was the sixth season for the expansion Buffalo Braves franchise in the National Basketball Association and its Atlantic Division. It was the team's fourth season under head coach Jack Ramsay. The team's official home arena was Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.
The 1974–75 Buffalo Braves season was the fifth season of the club in the National Basketball Association. It was the team's third season under head coach Jack Ramsay. The team's home arena was the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, with six "home" games played at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
The 1998–99 NBA season was the Grizzlies' fourth season in the National Basketball Association. On March 23, 1998, the owners of all 29 NBA teams voted 27–2 to reopen the league's collective bargaining agreement, seeking changes to the league's salary cap system, and a ceiling on individual player salaries. The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) opposed to the owners' plan, and wanted raises for players who earned the league's minimum salary. After both sides failed to reach an agreement, the owners called for a lockout, which began on July 1, 1998, putting a hold on all team trades, free agent signings and training camp workouts, and cancelling many NBA regular season and preseason games. Due to the lockout, the NBA All-Star Game, which was scheduled to be played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 14, 1999, was also cancelled. However, on January 6, 1999, NBA commissioner David Stern, and NBPA director Billy Hunter finally reached an agreement to end the lockout. The deal was approved by both the players and owners, and was signed on January 20, ending the lockout after 204 days. The regular season began on February 5, and was cut short to just 50 games instead of the regular 82-game schedule.
The 1998–99 NBA season was the Clippers' 29th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 15th season in Los Angeles. On March 23, 1998, the owners of all 29 NBA teams voted 27–2 to reopen the league's collective bargaining agreement, seeking changes to the league's salary cap system, and a ceiling on individual player salaries. The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) opposed to the owners' plan, and wanted raises for players who earned the league's minimum salary. After both sides failed to reach an agreement, the owners called for a lockout, which began on July 1, 1998, putting a hold on all team trades, free agent signings and training camp workouts, and cancelling many NBA regular season and preseason games. Due to the lockout, the NBA All-Star Game, which was scheduled to be played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 14, 1999, was also cancelled. However, on January 6, 1999, NBA commissioner David Stern, and NBPA director Billy Hunter finally reached an agreement to end the lockout. The deal was approved by both the players and owners, and was signed on January 20, ending the lockout after 204 days. The regular season began on February 5, and was cut short to just 50 games instead of the regular 82-game schedule.
The 1993–94 NBA season was the Clippers' 24th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 10th season in Los Angeles. The Clippers had the thirteenth overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft, and selected Terry Dehere out of Seton Hall University. In the off-season, the team signed free agent Mark Aguirre, who won two championships with the Detroit Pistons from 1989 to 1990. Under new head coach Bob Weiss, the Clippers played slightly under .500 with an 11–14 start, but then struggled posting a 7-game losing streak between December and January, as Stanley Roberts only played just 14 games due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. The team held a 16–29 record at the All-Star break.