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: Portland Trail Blazers
Chicago Bulls: The Complete History
Chicago Bulls: The Complete History of One of the NBA’s Greatest Franchises The Chicago Bulls entered the National Basketball Association in the 1966-67 season and eventually became one of the most recognizable sports franchises in the world. Their history includes six NBA championships, the greatest championship run of the 1990s, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Phil Jackson, three Rookie of the Year winners and six regular-season MVP awards. The Bulls began as an expansion franchise playing at the International Amphitheatre. Today, they call the United Center home. The Birth of the Chicago Bulls Chicago had previously been represented in professional basketball by teams such as the Chicago Stags and Chicago Packers/Zephyrs, but those franchises had disappeared or relocated. In 1966, Chicago was awarded another NBA franchise. The man who put the Bulls together was Dick Klein, a former Northwestern basketball player and businessman. Klein assembled the ownership group and became the franchise’s first owner and general manager. The Bulls immediately made NBA history. In their first season, Chicago went 33-48 and reached the playoffs. According to the United Center’s official history, the Bulls remain the only expansion franchise from that era to make the playoffs in its inaugural season. Head coach Johnny “Red” Kerr was also named NBA Coach of the Year. The new franchise was named the Bulls, reportedly because Klein wanted a name that represented Chicago’s meatpacking heritage. All Chicago Bulls Owners 1. Dick Klein — 1966-1972 Dick Klein was the founder and first owner of the Chicago Bulls. He was instrumental in bringing another NBA franchise to Chicago after the earlier professional teams had disappeared. Klein served as the organization’s first general manager as well as its principal owner. 2. Arthur Wirtz-led Ownership Group — 1972-1985 In 1972, the Bulls were purchased by an ownership group headed by Arthur Wirtz, whose business interests included the Chicago Blackhawks. The ownership group included prominent Chicago investors and sports figures, including members of the Wirtz, Crown and Hunt families. The Bulls remained under this ownership structure until 1985. A contemporary NBA franchise directory records the sale to the Jerry Reinsdorf-led group in 1985 for approximately $9.2 million. This period included the development of the first truly great Bulls teams, led by players such as Jerry Sloan, Bob Love and Norm Van Lier. 3. Jerry Reinsdorf — 1985-present Jerry Reinsdorf led the group that purchased controlling interest in the Bulls in 1985. Reinsdorf has remained the team’s principal owner and chairman ever since. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame lists him as Bulls owner from 1985 to the present and notes his six NBA championships as owner. The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame The Reinsdorf era produced: Six NBA championships Six NBA Finals victories Five Michael Jordan MVP awards Derrick Rose’s MVP award Three Bulls Rookie of the Year winners The 72-10 1995-96 team The international rise of the Bulls brand The Bulls won their six championships in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Every Stadium and Arena the Bulls Have Called Home International Amphitheatre 1966-1967 The International Amphitheatre was the original home of the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls began their NBA existence there during the 1966-67 season. Chicago Stadium 1967-1994 The Bulls moved to the historic Chicago Stadium after their inaugural season. Chicago Stadium became one of the most important buildings in Bulls history. It was the home of: Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, Norm Van Lier, Artis Gilmore, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson. Most importantly, the first three Bulls championships were won while Chicago Stadium was the team’s home. The Bulls won the NBA championship there in: 1991 1992 1993 The United Center eventually replaced Chicago Stadium in 1994. United Center 1994-present The Bulls moved into the United Center in 1994. The arena was developed through a partnership involving Jerry Reinsdorf and the Wirtz family. Construction began in 1992, and the building opened in August 1994. The final three Bulls championships were won at the United Center: 1996 1997 1998 The United Center remains the home of the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls became a serious NBA contender during the 1970s. The team was led by players including: Jerry Sloan Sloan was one of the toughest guards in NBA history and became one of the first great players associated with the Bulls. Bob Love Love was an outstanding scorer and one of Chicago’s most important players during the 1970s. Norm Van Lier Van Lier was known for his defense, toughness and leadership. Artis Gilmore Gilmore became one of the most dominant centers in franchise history. Gilmore was 7ft 2in tall and played for the ABA, Kentucky Colonels Chet Walker Walker joined the Bulls after already establishing himself as a star with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Bulls captured the 1975 Midwest Division championship, their first division title. The Arrival of Michael Jordan Everything changed in 1984. The Bulls selected Michael Jordan with the third overall pick in the NBA Draft. Jordan immediately became one of the league’s biggest stars. He won Rookie of the Year in 1985 and eventually transformed the Bulls from a struggling franchise into the dominant team of the 1990s. NBA records Jordan’s five regular-season MVP awards with Chicago. Chicago Bulls NBA Rookie of the Year Winners The Bulls have had three NBA Rookie of the Year winners. Michael Jordan — 1984-85 Jordan averaged 28.2 points per game during his rookie season and became an All-Star. He was named NBA Rookie of the Year. His arrival marked the beginning of the greatest era in Bulls history. Elton Brand — 1999-2000 Chicago selected Elton Brand with the first overall pick in 1999. Brand… Continue reading Chicago Bulls: The Complete History
Cleveland Cavaliers: The Complete History of the Wine and Gold
The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion franchise. More than five decades later, the Cavaliers have produced some of the most memorable players, coaches, teams and moments in NBA history—including the championship that ended Cleveland’s 52-year major-sports championship drought. The Cavaliers’ story includes early struggles, the Miracle at Richfield, difficult ownership years, the arrival of LeBron James, four NBA Finals appearances in the 2010s, and the historic 2016 NBA championship. The Beginning: Cleveland Gets an NBA Team The Cavaliers began play in the 1970-71 NBA season. Attorney and Cleveland sports entrepreneur Nick Mileti was the key figure in bringing the expansion franchise to the city. Mileti had purchased the Cleveland Arena and was looking for additional major professional sports tenants. Cleveland was awarded an NBA expansion franchise in 1970. The Cavaliers were joined that year by the Buffalo Braves and Portland Trail Blazers. The team’s name came from a contest sponsored by The Plain Dealer. Jerry Tomko submitted the winning name, “Cavaliers.” Other finalists included the Jays, Foresters and Presidents. The first Cavaliers team struggled badly, finishing its inaugural season 15-67. But Cleveland basketball would eventually become one of the NBA’s most important franchises. All Cavaliers Owners The Cavaliers have had four principal ownership eras since joining the NBA. 1. Nick Mileti — 1970-1980 Nick Mileti was the Cavaliers’ founding owner and the person most responsible for bringing NBA basketball to Cleveland. Mileti remained involved with the franchise until 1980. His ownership period included the franchise’s first playoff team and its first division championship in 1976. 2. Ted Stepien — 1980-1983 Ted Stepien purchased control of the Cavaliers in 1980. Stepien’s ownership became one of the most controversial periods in franchise history. Cleveland struggled on the court, and the franchise traded away multiple future first-round draft choices. Those transactions eventually contributed to the NBA adopting what became known as the Ted Stepien Rule, which restricts teams from trading away first-round picks in consecutive future drafts. Stepien eventually considered moving the franchise to Ted Stepien Rule. Stephen considered moving to Toronto. 3. George and Gordon Gund — 1983-2005 Brothers George Gund and Gordon Gund purchased the Cavaliers in 1983 and kept the franchise in Cleveland. Their ownership brought stability after the difficult Stepien era. The Gunds hired executives and coaches who helped rebuild the franchise, including Wayne Embry and Lenny Wilkens. The organization eventually drafted Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, Ron Harper and Larry Nance, producing one of the best Cleveland teams of the 1980s and early 1990s. 4. Dan Gilbert — 2005-present Dan Gilbert led the investor group that purchased the Cavaliers in 2005. The NBA approved the purchase on March 1, 2005. Gilbert’s ownership began just before the Cavaliers selected Akron native LeBron James with the first overall pick in the 2003 draft—James had already been drafted before Gilbert purchased the team—but Gilbert’s ownership era ultimately became synonymous with the franchise’s championship years. The Cavaliers won their first NBA championship in 2016 under Gilbert’s ownership. Gilbert remains the team’s principal owner. Every Arena the Cavaliers Have Called Home Cleveland Arena 1970-1974 The Cleveland Arena was the Cavaliers’ first home. The building had already been associated with Nick Mileti before the Cavaliers arrived. Cleveland played its first four NBA seasons there. Richfield Coliseum 1974-1994 The Cavaliers moved to the Richfield Coliseum in Summit County in 1974. The larger building became the home of some of the greatest early Cavaliers teams. It was there that Cleveland captured its first division championship and made the playoffs in 1976. The Richfield years included the famous “Miracle at Richfield” era of the 1970s. Gund Arena 1994-2005 The Cavaliers moved downtown to a new arena in 1994. The building opened as Gund Arena, named for owner Gordon Gund. Quicken Loans Arena 2005-2019 Following Dan Gilbert’s purchase of the Cavaliers in 2005, the arena was renamed Quicken Loans Arena. It became the site of many of the greatest moments of the LeBron James era. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 2019-2025 The building was renovated and renamed Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in 2019. Rocket Arena 2025-present The building was renamed Rocket Arena in 2025 as part of a new branding agreement. The arena remains the Cavaliers’ home. The Miracle at Richfield The Cavaliers’ first great team emerged in the mid-1970s. Led by players such as Austin Carr, Bingo Smith, Jim Chones and Nate Thurmond, Cleveland reached the playoffs for the first time in 1976. The team defeated Washington in the first round before advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Cleveland eventually lost to the Boston Celtics, but the 1976 season established the Cavaliers as a legitimate NBA franchise. That team became known as the Miracle at Richfield. The 1980s Cavaliers The Gund ownership era produced a major rebuilding effort. The Cavaliers drafted Brad Daugherty with the first overall pick in 1986 and later developed a powerful nucleus that included: Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, Larry Nance, Ron Harper, Craig Ehlo The Cavaliers became one of the NBA’s strongest teams during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Unfortunately for Cleveland, those teams repeatedly encountered the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan in the Eastern Conference. The most famous meeting came in the 1989 playoffs. Jordan’s dramatic last-second shot over Craig Ehlo in Game 5 became known simply as “The Shot.” It remains one of the most famous playoff moments in NBA history. LeBron James Changes Everything In 2003, Cleveland selected LeBron James with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. James was an Akron, Ohio, native who became the face of the franchise almost immediately. NBA Rookie of the Year Award. In his rookie season, James averaged 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game and won the 2003-04 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Cavaliers Rookie of the Year Winners Under your requirement that the award must have been earned as a Cavalier, Cleveland has had two NBA Rookie of the Year winners: LeBron James — 2003-04 James won Rookie of the Year after… Continue reading Cleveland Cavaliers: The Complete History of the Wine and Gold
Portland Fire WNBA History
The Fire have one of the most unusual histories in the WNBA. The original Portland Fire entered the league om 2000, played three seasons, never reached the playoffs, and ceased operations after the 2002 season. Yet the franchise produced a Rookie of the Year, developed several players who became important WNBA contributors, and finished its final season with a .500 record Then, 24 years after the original Fire disappeared, Portland returned to the WNBA. The new Portland Fire began play in 2026, bringing professional women’s basketball back to the Rose City under new ownership and with a new roster, coaching staff and organizational structure. The history of the Fire is therefore really two stories: the original 2000–2002 team and the reborn Portland Fire beginning in 2026. The Original Portland Fire The WNBA awarded Portland an expansion franchise for the 2000 season as the league expanded from 12 to 16 teams. The original Fire were affiliated with the Portland Trail Blazers and played their home games at the Rose Garden, now known as the Moda Center. The team was operated by the Portland Trail Blazers organization, with Paul Allen serving as chairman and owner of the Trail Blazers. At the time, WNBA teams operated under the league’s NBA ownership structure. When the WNBA reorganized its ownership system after the 2002 season, Allen declined to assume ownership of the Fire. Without an ownership group in place, the team ceased operations. The WNBA itself records that the Portland Trail Blazers organization elected not to assume ownership of the Fire in December 2002. This is an important part of the Fire story because the team’s disappearance was not the result of a championship drought or a dramatic collapse on the court. In fact, the Fire were improving when they disappeared. Portland Fire Owners Original Fire: 2000–2002 The principal ownership connection was: Paul Allen / Portland Trail Blazers organization The Fire were operated under the WNBA’s NBA-affiliated ownership model during their three seasons. Paul Allen was the chairman associated with the franchise. After the 2002 season, the Trail Blazers organization declined to take ownership of the team, and the Fire ceased operations. New Portland Fire: 2026–present Portland received a new WNBA expansion franchise on September 18, 2024. The new team is owned and operated by RAJ Sports, led by siblings Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. This is a completely new ownership group and franchise operation, although the team deliberately revived the Portland Fire name and honors the history of the original club. Home Stadiums The original Fire had one home arena. Rose Garden — 2000–2002 The original Portland Fire played at the Rose Garden, which opened in 1995. The Rose Garden was later renamed the Moda Center in 2013. The arena was therefore the home of the original Fire and is also the home of the revived Fire. Moda Center — 2026–present The new Portland Fire returned to the same building, now called the Moda Center. The City of Portland lists the Moda Center as a primary home of both the Portland Trail Blazers and Portland Fire. That gives the Fire an unusual connection between generations: the same building has hosted Portland’s WNBA team in both eras. The Three Seasons of the Original Fire. The original Fire finished: Season Record Western Conference Finish 2000 10–22 7th 2001 11–21 7th 2002 16–16 5th The overall record was 37–59. The team never made the playoffs. But the final season showed what the Fire might have become had the franchise continued. The 2002 team went 16–16 and finished fifth in the Western Conference. It was the best record in the original franchise’s short history. Unfortunately, that improvement came at exactly the wrong time. The team folded after the season. The Fire’s Coaches One of the most unusual facts about the original franchise is that it had only one head coach. Linda Hargrove — 2000–2002 Hargrove coached all three seasons and also served as general manager. Her records were: 2000: 10–22 2001: 11–21 2002: 16–16 Her overall regular-season record was 37–59. Although Hargrove never had the opportunity to coach the Fire into the playoffs, the 2002 season suggested that her team was finally becoming competitive. Alex Sarama — 2026–present The revived Portland Fire hired Alex Sarama as its first head coach. The new Fire entered the WNBA in 2026 as an expansion team. The organization also brought in former WNBA star Sylvia Fowles as an assistant coach, creating an interesting historical connection because Fowles is part of a new generation of WNBA legends helping establish Portland’s second-era franchise. The Fire’s Award Winners The original Fire had one major WNBA individual award winner. Jackie Stiles — 2001 Rookie of the Year Portland selected Jackie Stiles with the fourth overall pick in the 2001 WNBA Draft. She immediately became the face of the franchise. Stiles averaged 14.9 points per game, started all 32 games and led Portland in scoring. She received 32 of 60 votes for Rookie of the Year, defeating Seattle’s No. 1 overall pick Lauren Jackson, who received 20 votes. Stiles also shot 43.1 percent from three-point range, an outstanding percentage for a rookie in that era. Other major awards The original Fire had: WNBA MVP: Jackie Stiles, 2001 WNBA MVP: None Defensive Player of the Year: None Coach of the Year: None WNBA Finals MVP: None Sixth Player of the Year: None The franchise never had an MVP winner. WNBA MVP Winners Who Played for the Fire There is an important distinction here. No player won the WNBA MVP award while playing for the Portland Fire. The original Fire lasted only three seasons, and none of its players received the league’s regular-season MVP award. That makes Jackie Stiles’ 2001 Rookie of the Year award even more important to the franchise’s individual-award history. The Best Portland Fire Draft 2001 — The Jackie Stiles Draft The 2001 draft was easily the most important draft in original Fire history. Portland selected: 1st round, No. 4 — Jackie Stiles… Continue reading Portland Fire WNBA History
