Crypto.com Arena – From The Middle Blog

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… Continue reading Los Angeles Clippers History: From the Buffalo Braves to Intuit Dome

Los Angeles Sparks: History, Owners, Arenas, Hall of Famers and the Legacy of a WNBA Powerhouse The Los Angeles Sparks are one of the original franchises of the Women’s National Basketball Association and one of the most important teams in the history of women’s professional basketball. From the league’s first game in 1997 to three WNBA championships, multiple league MVPs, Hall of Fame players, Olympic champions and generations of outstanding talent, the Sparks have built a legacy that stretches well beyond their championship banners. The franchise has remained in Los Angeles since the WNBA’s inaugural season and has been home to some of the greatest players in women’s basketball history, most notably Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker. The Beginning of the Los Angeles Sparks The Sparks were established for the WNBA’s inaugural 1997 season as one of the league’s original eight franchises. Their first game was particularly historic. On June 21, 1997, the Sparks hosted the New York Liberty at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood. Penny Toler scored the first basket in WNBA history, giving the Sparks a permanent place in the league’s history from the opening minute of the first game. Los Angeles finished its first season 14–14. The early years were a period of development, but the arrival and development of Lisa Leslie helped transform the franchise. By 1999, the Sparks had their first winning season, finishing 20–12 and making their first playoff appearance. The team defeated the Sacramento Monarchs in the opening round before losing to the eventual champion Houston Comets in the Western Conference Finals. The Sparks were no longer simply an expansion team. They were becoming a contender. The Owners of the Los Angeles Sparks The Sparks have had several ownership groups during their history. Jerry Buss — 1997–2006 The franchise originally belonged to Dr. Jerry Buss, the longtime owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Sparks operated as the Lakers’ sister WNBA franchise during their first decade. Buss’s ownership connected the new women’s league with one of the most recognizable basketball organizations in the world. Buss owned the Sparks from the franchise’s beginning in 1997 until 2006. Gemini Basketball LLC — 2006–2011 In 2006, Buss sold the Sparks to Gemini Basketball LLC. The ownership group included: Carla Christofferson, Kathy Goodman, and Lynai Jones. The new ownership represented a transition from NBA ownership to independent ownership of the WNBA franchise. Williams Group Holdings — 2011–2014 Williams Group Holdings, headed by Paula Madison, became the team’s controlling ownership group during the next period. Carla Christofferson and Kathy Goodman remained involved, while Sparks legend Lisa Leslie was also part of the ownership group for a period. The ownership era became increasingly difficult financially, and by the end of 2013 Williams Group Holdings announced that it could no longer continue operating the franchise. The WNBA became involved in the transition while a new ownership group was sought. Sparks LA Sports — 2014–present In February 2014, a group led by Mark Walter and Earvin “Magic” Johnson purchased the Sparks. The ownership group included: Mark Walter, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Stan Kasten, Todd Boehly, Bobby Patton, and Eric Holoman. The purchase was especially important because it kept the Sparks in Los Angeles at a time when the franchise’s future had been uncertain. The current ownership group is known as Sparks LA Sports. Every Arena the Sparks Have Called Home The Sparks’ primary home has been downtown Los Angeles for most of their history, but scheduling and arena construction have occasionally required the team to move games to other venues. Great Western Forum — 1997–2000 The Great Western Forum in Inglewood was the original home of the Los Angeles Sparks. It was the site of the first game in WNBA history involving the Sparks and New York Liberty. The Forum was the Sparks’ home during their first four seasons. Staples Center — 2001–2021 The Sparks moved downtown to Staples Center in 2001. The move immediately became part of the franchise’s greatest era. The Sparks won WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002 during their early years at the arena. Staples Center was renamed Crypto.com Arena in 2021. Los Angeles Convention Center — 2021 Because of scheduling conflicts involving the Lakers and Clippers during the pandemic-delayed sports calendar, the Sparks played the first 11 of their 16 regular-season home games in 2021 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Sparks returned to Staples Center for their final five home games and playoffs. Galen Center — 2023 The Sparks used USC’s Galen Center for two home games during the 2023 season. One example was the August 23, 2023 home game against the Phoenix Mercury. Walter Pyramid — 2024 Construction at Crypto.com Arena forced the Sparks to schedule early-season games at the Walter Pyramid at Long Beach State. The Sparks ultimately played two home games there, against Atlanta and Washington, before other scheduled games were moved back to Crypto.com Arena. Crypto.com Arena — 2001–present Crypto.com Arena, originally known as Staples Center, remains the Sparks’ primary home. The arena has witnessed all three Sparks championships associated with their downtown era: 2001, 2002 and 2016. The Sparks have continued their relationship with the arena, with a lease extension keeping them there through 2029. The Sparks’ WNBA Hall of Fame Players The WNBA does not operate a separate Hall of Fame comparable to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. For this article, the Hall of Fame category refers to players who have been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and whose major professional legacy includes their time with Los Angeles. Under that standard, the two defining Sparks players are Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker. Lisa Leslie Lisa Leslie is the foundational superstar of the Los Angeles Sparks. Drafted by Los Angeles in 1997, Leslie spent her entire WNBA career with the Sparks from 1997 through 2009. Her Sparks accomplishments include: Three WNBA MVP awards Two WNBA championships Two WNBA Finals MVP awards Eight All-Star selections Eight All-WNBA First Team selections Two Defensive Player of… Continue reading Los Angeles Sparks: History and Legacy