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
Tag: Harold Lipton
Boston Celtics: The Complete History of an NBA Dynasty
Boston Celtics: The Complete History of an NBA Dynasty The Boston Celtics are one of the foundational franchises of the National Basketball Association. Founded in 1946, Boston became the defining team of the NBA’s early years, built the greatest dynasty of the 1950s and 1960s, produced generations of Hall of Fame players, and continued its championship tradition into the modern era. Boston entered the 2024 season with 17 championships and finished it by defeating the Dallas Mavericks four games to one, giving the franchise its 18th NBA championship—the most in NBA history. The Beginning of the Boston Celtics The Celtics were founded in 1946 as one of the original franchises of the Basketball Association of America, the league that merged with the National Basketball League to form today’s NBA. The original owner was Walter A. Brown, whose name became permanently associated with Boston basketball. Brown also played a major role in hiring Red Auerbach, the coach and basketball architect who transformed the Celtics into a dynasty. Boston struggled during its first few seasons. That changed dramatically when Auerbach took over as head coach in 1950. Auerbach’s Celtics developed a fast-paced style built around defense, passing and team basketball. In 1950, Boston also selected Chuck Cooper, the first Black player ever drafted by an NBA team. Celtics Ownership Through the Years The Celtics have had one of the more complicated ownership histories in professional sports. 1946–1950 — Boston Garden-Arena Corporation The franchise initially operated as part of the Boston Garden-Arena Corporation, with Walter Brown running the Celtics. 1950–1964 — Walter A. Brown and Lou Pieri Brown acquired the team directly and brought Lou Pieri, previously associated with the Providence Steamrollers, into the ownership group. This was the beginning of the Celtics’ first great dynasty. 1964–1965 — Lou Pieri and Marjorie Brown After Walter Brown died in 1964, ownership passed to Lou Pieri and Marjorie Brown, Brown’s widow. 1965–1968 — Marvin Kratter Marvin Kratter, through the Knickerbocker Brewing Company/National Equities interests, acquired the franchise. 1968–1969 — Ballantine Brewery The Ballantine Brewery, through Investors Funding Corporation, owned the Celtics. 1969–1971 — Trans-National Communications Trans-National Communications, headed by Woody Erdman, took control. 1971–1972 — Ballantine Brewery Ballantine returned as an owner. 1972–1975 — Robert Schmertz Robert Schmertz and Leisure Technology became the controlling ownership group. There was also a complicated period involving Irv Levin and Harold Lipton, whose ownership arrangements changed several times during the early-to-mid 1970s. 1975–1978 — Irv Levin and Harold Lipton Levin and Lipton ultimately became the controlling owners again. 1978–1979 — John Y. Brown Jr. and Harry T. Mangurian Jr. The franchise was acquired by John Y. Brown Jr. and Harry T. Mangurian Jr. 1979–1983 — Harry T. Mangurian Jr. Mangurian subsequently became the controlling owner. 1983–1993 — Don Gaston, Alan Cohen and Paul Dupee A group headed by Don Gaston, with Alan Cohen and Paul Dupee, purchased the Celtics. This ownership was in place during Boston’s great 1980s era, when the Celtics won championships in 1984 and 1986. 1993–2002 — Paul Gaston Paul Gaston, Don Gaston’s son, became the principal owner. 2002–2025 — Boston Basketball Partners On December 31, 2002, Boston Basketball Partners LLC purchased the Celtics for approximately $360 million. The group included Wyc Grousbeck, H. Irving Grousbeck, Steve Pagliuca and other partners. This group presided over the 2008 championship and the 2024 championship. 2025–Present — William Chisholm-led ownership group In 2025, an investor group led by William “Bill” Chisholm completed the purchase of majority control of the Celtics after approval by the NBA Board of Governors. Chisholm became governor, while Wyc Grousbeck remained a co-owner and CEO. Aditya Mittal became an alternate governor. Other members of the ownership group include Bruce Beal, Andrew Bialecki, Dom Ferrante, Rob Hale, Mario Ho, Ian Loring, with Sixth Street also participating as a major investor. Every Arena and Home Venue Used by the Celtics The Celtics have spent most of their history in Boston, but the franchise has played home games at several different buildings. Boston Arena — Boston, Massachusetts 1946–1947, partial schedule Boston Arena, now known as Matthews Arena, hosted some of the Celtics’ earliest games. Boston Garden — Boston, Massachusetts 1946–1995 The legendary Boston Garden became the true home of Celtics basketball. This was the building where the Russell-era dynasty won championship after championship. It was also home to the great Celtics teams of the 1980s. The Garden closed after the 1994-95 season. Hartford Civic Center — Hartford, Connecticut Occasional home games, 1975–1995 During the later Boston Garden years, the Celtics played occasional home games at the Hartford Civic Center. The arrangement ended when Boston moved permanently into its new arena in 1995. Providence Civic Center — Providence, Rhode Island The Celtics also played selected home games in Providence. The 1973-74 Celtics media guide, for example, listed both Boston Garden and Providence Civic Center as home courts. FleetCenter — Boston, Massachusetts 1995–2005 The Celtics moved into the new arena in 1995. It originally opened as the FleetCenter and replaced the Boston Garden. TD Banknorth Garden — Boston, Massachusetts 2005–2009 The building received another naming-rights change in 2005. TD Garden — Boston, Massachusetts 2009–present The same arena is now known as TD Garden, the current home of the Celtics. NBA.com lists TD Garden as Boston’s current arena. The Celtics Dynasty of Bill Russell The most extraordinary period in NBA history began with the arrival of Bill Russell in 1956. Russell became the centerpiece of a team featuring players such as Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Tommy Heinsohn, Sam Jones, John Havlicek, K.C. Jones and Frank Ramsey, while Auerbach directed the organization. Boston won its first championship in 1957. Then came one of the greatest championship runs in sports history. The Celtics won eight consecutive championships from 1959 through 1966. Boston won another championship in 1968 and then again in 1969. Russell retired following the 1969 championship, ending the greatest dynasty the NBA had seen. Boston Celtics NBA Championships Boston has won 18 NBA championships: Year Championship 1957 Celtics defeat… Continue reading Boston Celtics: The Complete History of an NBA Dynasty
