The Los Angeles Clippers have one of the most unusual histories in the NBA. The franchise began in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves, moved to San Diego in 1978 and became the San Diego Clippers, and finally moved to Los Angeles in 1984 to become the Los Angeles Clippers.
For much of their history, the Clippers struggled for respect and success. That changed dramatically in the 2010s, when San Diego Clippers. Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan created the spectacular “Lob City” era. The franchise eventually reached its first Western Conference Finals in 2021 and moved into its own new home, Intuit Dome, in 2024.
The Beginning: The Buffalo Braves
The franchise entered the NBA for the 1970-71 season as an expansion team called the Buffalo Braves, joining the Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers as new NBA franchises.
Paul Snyder became the principal owner of the young franchise. The Braves played their home games primarily at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. They also played a number of home games at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens during the early years, making the franchise’s history unusual even before it left Buffalo.
The early Braves struggled, but the franchise changed direction when it selected Bob McAdoo with the second pick of the 1972 NBA Draft. McAdoo immediately became the centerpiece of the franchise. He won the 1972-73 NBA Rookie of the Year Award, became a five-time All-Star, won three consecutive scoring titles and was named NBA MVP for the 1974-75 season. That MVP remains the only regular-season MVP won by a player in the history of the Clippers franchise.
The Braves made the playoffs three consecutive times from 1974 through 1976.
Ownership Problems and the Move to San Diego Despite the emergence of McAdoo, ownership and arena problems eventually disrupted the Braves. John Y. Brown Jr. acquired a controlling interest in the franchise during the 1970s, with Harry T. Mangurian Jr. also becoming a minority owner. Brown’s ownership period was marked by major roster changes, including the departure of McAdoo.
In 1978, Brown and Harry T. Mangurian Jr. owner Irv Levin completed a highly unusual franchise exchange. Brown took control of the Celtics, while Levin and his partner Harold Lipton acquired the Braves franchise. Levin then moved the team to California. The Buffalo Braves became the San Diego Clippers in 1978.
The name Clippers was chosen because of San Diego’s connection with sailing ships and the city’s waterfront.
The San Diego Clippers
The Clippers played at the San Diego Sports Arena from 1978 through 1984.
The San Diego years were not particularly successful on the court. The team failed to make the playoffs during its six seasons in San Diego. One of the most important developments of the period came in 1981, when Los Angeles-area businessman Donald Sterling purchased the franchise from Irv Levin and Harold Lipton for approximately $12.5 million.
Sterling wanted to move the team to Los Angeles. After disputes with the NBA, the franchise eventually relocated in 1984. The San Diego Clippers became the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Los Angeles Clippers Arrive
The Clippers began their Los Angeles era in 1984 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. The move put the Clippers in the same market as the highly successful Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were already one of the NBA’s dominant franchises, making it difficult for the Clippers to establish their own identity. For the next 15 seasons, the Clippers called the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena home.
During the 1990s, the franchise also played occasional home games at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim. The Clippers considered a permanent move to Anaheim but ultimately remained in Los Angeles.
The Staples Center Era
In 1999, the Clippers moved into the newly constructed Staples Center, sharing the downtown Los Angeles facility with the Lakers. The arena was later renamed Crypto.com Arena. The Clippers remained there for 25 seasons, from 1999 through 2024. The arena became the setting for some of the greatest years in modern Clippers history, including the rise of the “Lob City” team.
The Lob City Era
The Clippers began to change their image after acquiring Chris Paul in 2011.
Paul joined Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, creating one of the NBA’s most entertaining teams. The combination of Paul’s passing, Griffin’s athleticism and Jordan’s ability to finish above the rim produced the famous “Lob City” style. Paul was named to three consecutive All-NBA First Teams as a Clipper from 2012 through 2014. He also became the franchise’s all-time leader in assists. The Clippers won their first Pacific Division titles in 2013 and 2014.
Blake Griffin — Rookie of the Year
Blake Griffin is the most important Clippers player to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award while actually playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. Griffin was the unanimous winner of the 2010-11 Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. He became the first Clipper to win the award since Terry Cummings won it with the San Diego Clippers in 1983. Griffin went on to become a five-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA selection as a Clipper.
Chris Paul — The Face of Lob City
Chris Paul became the floor leader of the greatest sustained winning period to that point in Clippers history. During his Clippers career, Paul: Made five All-Star teams as a Clipper
Earned three All-NBA First Team selections Became the franchise’s all-time assists leader Helped lead the Clippers to six consecutive winning seasons from 2011-12 through 2016-17 Helped the franchise win its first two Pacific Division championships
Paul finished his Clippers career with 4,076 assists, the franchise record.
DeAndre Jordan
DeAndre Jordan became another essential part of the Lob City era. Jordan developed into one of the NBA’s premier rebounders and shot blockers. He remains the franchise’s all-time leader in rebounds and blocked shots. His partnership with Griffin produced countless spectacular alley-oop plays and helped define the Clippers’ identity during the 2010s.
The First Western Conference Finals
The Clippers finally reached a level the franchise had never reached before in the 2021 playoffs.
Led by Tyronn Lue, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and an outstanding supporting cast, Los Angeles defeated Utah in the Western Conference semifinals.
The victory sent the Clippers to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. They ultimately lost the series to the Phoenix Suns, 4-2.
The 2021 run was a historic turning point because the franchise had never previously advanced that far in the playoffs.
Steve Ballmer Becomes Owner
In 2014, former Microsoft executive Steve Ballmer purchased the Clippers for approximately $2 billion. Ballmer officially took control in August 2014 after the sale was approved by a California court. Shelly Sterling received the designation of “Owner Emeritus” as part of the agreement. Ballmer’s ownership ushered in a new era of investment in the organization, including the construction of the Clippers’ own arena.
Intuit Dome The Clippers moved into Intuit Dome in Inglewood for the 2024-25 season.
For the first time in Los Angeles, the Clippers had an arena designed specifically around their organization and fan base rather than sharing an NBA building with the Lakers.
The move represents another major chapter in the franchise’s history.
All Clippers Franchise Owners
The ownership history is complicated because the franchise changed cities and team names.
Buffalo Braves
Original ownership group / franchise holder — the franchise was initially established through an investment group, with Paul Snyder becoming the principal owner before the team’s inaugural season.
Paul Snyder — principal owner during the early Buffalo years.
John Y. Brown Jr. — acquired a controlling interest in the Braves in the mid-1970s.
Harry T. Mangurian Jr. — minority owner during the latter Buffalo period.
San Diego Clippers
Irv Levin and Harold Lipton — acquired the Buffalo franchise through the 1978 exchange with John Y. Brown Jr. and moved it to San Diego.
San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers
Donald Sterling — purchased the Clippers in 1981 and owned the franchise through 2014.
Shelly Sterling — co-owner through the Sterling family ownership structure; she and Donald were reported as holding equal interests in the franchise.
Steve Ballmer — purchased the Clippers in 2014 and remains the team’s owner.
Every Arena the Franchise Has Called Home
The Clippers franchise has played home games in several buildings because of its unusual history.
1. Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Buffalo, New York — 1970-1978
The original home of the Buffalo Braves and the building where the franchise began its NBA existence.
2. Maple Leaf Gardens
Toronto, Ontario — occasional home games, 1971-1975
The Braves played 16 home games at Maple Leaf Gardens during this period.
3. San Diego Sports Arena
San Diego, California — 1978-1984
The home of the San Diego Clippers.
4. Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Los Angeles, California — 1984-1999
The Clippers’ first Los Angeles home.
5. Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim
Anaheim, California — occasional home games, 1994-1999
The Clippers played selected home games at the arena while considering whether to move the franchise permanently to Anaheim.
6. Staples Center / Crypto.com Arena
Los Angeles, California — 1999-2024
The Clippers shared the building with the Lakers and became one of the arena’s principal tenants.
7. Intuit Dome
Inglewood, California — 2024-present
The Clippers’ current home and the franchise’s first permanent Los Angeles-area arena built specifically for the organization.
Clippers and Basketball Hall of Fame
There is an important distinction when discussing the Basketball Hall of Fame.
The NBA’s Clippers franchise history page lists several Hall of Fame players who played for the franchise, including Bill Walton, Bob McAdoo, Moses Malone, Dominique Wilkins, Adrian Dantley, Jamaal Wilkes, Grant Hill and Paul Pierce.
However, many of these players earned their Hall of Fame reputations primarily through accomplishments with other teams. Therefore, under the stricter standard of “Hall of Fame as a Clipper”, the Clippers do not have a player who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame primarily because of his accomplishments while playing for the Los Angeles Clippers.
This distinction is especially important for Bob McAdoo. McAdoo is unquestionably a Hall of Famer, but his historic Clippers-franchise accomplishments came when the team was still the Buffalo Braves. He won the 1973 Rookie of the Year Award and the 1975 MVP as a Brave. Likewise, Bill Walton is a Hall of Famer whose greatest accomplishments came with Portland and Boston rather than the Clippers.
Hall of Fame players who played for the franchise
For completeness, the NBA lists:
Bill Walton, Bob McAdoo, Moses Malone, Dominique Wilkins, Adrian Dantley, Jamaal Wilkes, Grant Hill, and Paul Pierce. But these should not automatically be described as players who earned Hall of Fame status as Clippers.
NBA Rookie of the Year Winners as Clippers
The Clippers have had two players win Rookie of the Year while playing for the franchise, although one did so in San Diego.
Terry Cummings — 1982-83
San Diego Clippers
Cummings won Rookie of the Year in his first NBA season with the San Diego Clippers.
Blake Griffin — 2010-11
Los Angeles Clippers
Griffin was the unanimous Rookie of the Year, receiving all 118 first-place votes.
For the specific requirement of Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin is the answer.
NBA MVP Winners
The Clippers franchise has produced one NBA regular-season MVP.
Bob McAdoo — 1974-75
Buffalo Braves
McAdoo averaged 34.5 points and 14.1 rebounds per game during his MVP season.
He also won three consecutive NBA scoring titles and was a five-time All-Star.
Because McAdoo won the award as a Buffalo Brave, the Los Angeles Clippers have never had a player win the NBA MVP while playing under the Los Angeles Clippers name.
He does, however, remain the only MVP in the history of the franchise.
The Legacy of the Clippers
The Clippers’ legacy is unusual because it contains several distinct eras.
The Buffalo Braves established the franchise and produced Bob McAdoo, the franchise’s only MVP.
The San Diego Clippers era produced Terry Cummings’ Rookie of the Year season but otherwise was a difficult period on the court.
The early Los Angeles Clippers years were dominated by rebuilding and inconsistency.
Then came the Lob City era, led by Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. The Clippers became a regular playoff team and won their first Pacific Division championships.
The Steve Ballmer era brought another major transformation, culminating in the opening of Intuit Dome and the franchise’s first trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2021.
Most Outstanding Clippers Coach: Tyronn Lue
Tyronn Lue deserves the distinction of the franchise’s most outstanding coach based on the historical milestone he achieved with the organization. Lue became the head coach in 2020-21 and immediately guided the Clippers to their first Western Conference Finals appearance. That achievement broke a barrier that had stood since the franchise entered the NBA in 1970. Lue also led the Clippers to a 51-31 record in 2023-24.
The Legacy of the Clippers also deserves an important place in Clippers history. Doc Rivers coached the team for 564 games, the most in franchise history, and compiled a 356-208 regular-season record. His Clippers teams produced four consecutive seasons of at least 50 wins from 2013-14 through 2016-17.
The two coaches represent different milestones: Rivers established sustained regular-season success, while Lue led the franchise to its first Western Conference Finals.
Most Outstanding Clippers Player: Chris Paul
Chris Paul is the player who best represents the modern Los Angeles Clippers.
Paul was the central figure of the Lob City era and helped turn the Clippers into a consistent playoff organization.
His Clippers accomplishments include:
4,076 assists — franchise record
Three All-NBA First Team selections
Five All-Star selections as a Clipper
Six consecutive winning seasons
Two Pacific Division championships
The leadership of the franchise’s most recognizable modern-era team NBA.com identifies Paul as the Clippers’ all-time assists leader and describes him as the engine of one of the most exciting periods in franchise history.
Bob McAdoo remains the franchise’s greatest individual award winner because he captured Rookie of the Year and MVP, but he did so as a Buffalo Brave.
For the Los Angeles Clippers specifically, Chris Paul stands as the defining player of the franchise’s modern history.
Final Look at the Clippers
From Buffalo Memorial Auditorium to Intuit Dome, the Clippers have traveled a remarkable path.
1970: Buffalo Braves enter the NBA.
1972: Buffalo drafts Bob McAdoo.
1973: McAdoo wins Rookie of the Year.
1974-75: McAdoo wins NBA MVP and a scoring title.
1978: Franchise moves to San Diego and becomes the San Diego Clippers.
1981: Donald Sterling purchases the franchise.
1984: Franchise moves to Los Angeles.
1999: Clippers move into Staples Center.
2011: Chris Paul joins Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, beginning the Lob City era.
2011: Blake Griffin wins Rookie of the Year.
2013 and 2014: Clippers win their first Pacific Division championships.
2014: Steve Ballmer purchases the team.
2021: Clippers reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time.
2024: Clippers move into Intuit Dome.
The Clippers have yet to win an NBA championship, but their history has progressed from an expansion franchise in Buffalo to a major Los Angeles organization with its own arena and a growing record of postseason accomplishments.
The franchise’s story is therefore not simply about a team that moved from Buffalo to San Diego and then Los Angeles. It is the story of a franchise that spent decades searching for an identity and eventually established one of its own.
Artie Fischal
