Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball franchise based in Los Angeles, California. The team competes in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Western Conference’s Pacific Division. Founded in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves expansion franchise, the Clippers have experienced one of the most tumultuous histories in professional sports, relocating twice and enduring decades of futility before transforming into a championship contender in the 2010s.

The franchise has never won an NBA championship and is the oldest active NBA team never to have appeared in an NBA Finals. Despite this historical disappointment, the Clippers experienced competitive success during the “Lob City” era (2011-2017) and made their first conference finals appearance in 2021. The organization has featured Hall of Famers, including Bob McAdoo, Chris Paul (future inductee), and current stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.

Buffalo Braves Origins (1970–1978)

The Los Angeles Clippers were founded in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves, one of three expansion franchises joining the NBA alongside the Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers. The team’s name honored the Seneca Nation of New York, though it has since been criticized as culturally insensitive.

The Braves struggled initially, posting losing records in their first three seasons. However, the franchise transformed with the arrival of center Bob McAdoo, selected from the University of North Carolina in 1972. McAdoo became one of the NBA’s most dominant players, winning the MVP Award in 1975 while averaging 34.5 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 2.12 blocks per game. He is the last player to average at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in the same season.

The Braves made the playoffs in 1974, 1975, and 1976, establishing Buffalo’s only sustained NBA success. However, ownership changes and financial difficulties led to the team’s shocking relocation. In 1978, owner John Y. Brown Jr. orchestrated an unusual franchise swap with Boston Celtics owner Irv Levin, a California businessman who wanted to own an NBA team on the West Coast but could not move the historic Celtics franchise.

San Diego Clippers Era (1978–1984)

Following the franchise swap, Levin relocated the team to San Diego for the 1978-79 season. San Diego had lost its previous NBA team, the San Diego Rockets, to Houston in 1971. Team officials rejected the “Braves” name and held a contest, ultimately selecting “Clippers” in reference to the sailing ships that passed through San Diego Bay.

The era proved disastrous. The Clippers missed the playoffs in all six seasons, posting a combined 170-322 record (.345 winning percentage). The team averaged only 4,500 fans per game, reflecting both poor performance and limited fan interest. In 1981, Levin sold the franchise to Los Angeles-area real estate developer Donald Sterling for $12.5 million.

Sterling immediately lobbied the NBA to relocate the team to Los Angeles, his native market. Without league approval, Sterling controversially moved the franchise to Los Angeles in 1984, resulting in legal action. The NBA eventually permitted the relocation following litigation between the league and Sterling.

The Los Angeles Dark Ages (1984–2011)

The Clippers’ first 27 seasons in Los Angeles represented one of the worst stretches in professional sports history. The franchise made the playoffs only four times and won a single playoff round. Between 1977 and 2011—spanning 34 seasons across San Diego and Los Angeles—the Clippers qualified for the postseason just five times.

The team played initially at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena before moving to Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) in 1999, sharing the venue with the Lakers, Kings, and Sparks. This co-tenancy reinforced the franchise’s second-class status, as the historically successful Lakers dominated the building and the market.

Sterling’s ownership proved catastrophic. His refusal to spend on competitive rosters, poor organizational management, and eventual racist remarks that led to his lifetime ban in 2014 defined three decades of dysfunction. The Clippers became synonymous with failure, drawing constant unfavorable comparisons to the Lakers.

The “Lob City” Era and Competitive Resurgence (2011–2017)

The franchise’s transformation began in December 2011 with the trade for Chris Paul from New Orleans. Paul, a four-time All-Star point guard, partnered with high-flying forward Blake Griffin and center DeAndre Jordan to form the “Lob City” core, named for their spectacular alley-oop connections.

Under coach Vinny Del Negro and later Doc Rivers, the Clippers made the playoffs six consecutive seasons (2012-2017) and won division titles in 2013 and 2014, the franchise’s first division championships. However, postseason disappointment persisted. The Clippers became the first team in NBA history to lose five consecutive playoff series after holding a lead, including multiple collapses from 3-1 advantages.

On April 25, 2014, TMZ released audio of Sterling making racist remarks. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling for life and fined him $2.5 million. In August 2014, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer purchased the franchise for $2 billion, then a record price for a North American sports team.

The Kawhi Leonard Era and Conference Finals Breakthrough (2019–Present)

In July 2019, the Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard and traded for Paul George, forming a championship-caliber duo. In 2021, despite George’s injury absence, the Clippers reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history before eventually succumbing to the no.1 seeded Phoenix Suns.

The 2024-25 season brought both promise and frustration. The Clippers finished 51-32 and defeated Denver 4-3 in the first round before falling to Oklahoma City in the second round. The team ranked third in defensive rating but 20th in scoring, highlighting offensive limitations.

In September 2024, the Clippers moved from Crypto.com Arena to Intuit Dome, a state-of-the-art $2 billion arena in Inglewood. The facility, entirely financed by Ballmer, features revolutionary fan amenities and seating configurations. The move finally separated the franchise from the Lakers’ shadow.

The 2025-26 Season: Crisis and Recovery

The Clippers entered 2025-26 with championship aspirations after acquiring veterans Bradley Beal, Brook Lopez, and Chris Paul. However, the season opened disastrously. Los Angeles started 5-16 in their first 21 games, posting a 2-13 record in November, the worst month in franchise history.

The collapse resulted from multiple factors: Leonard’s limited availability (11 games in the first two months), injuries to key players, including Beal (fractured hip, season-ending), front office decisions, including trading Norman Powell to Miami, and aging roster construction. With an average age of 33.2 years, the Clippers fielded the oldest team in NBA history.

Additionally, in September 2025, reports surfaced alleging potential salary cap circumvention involving Ballmer and environmental company Aspiration paying Kawhi Leonard unethically. The NBA investigation is ongoing, and a conclusion is yet to be reached.

They also released Chris Paul on December 3, 2025, after just 16 games in his return stint. The team signed Kobe Sanders to a standard contract with a team option for 2026-27. Shortly after, owner Steve Ballmer issued a public challenge to Lawrence Frank and Tyronn Lue, stating “the job to turn it around is on Lue and Frank.” The statement reflected growing frustration with the franchise’s direction despite Ballmer’s recent $2 billion arena investment.

However, the Clippers executed a remarkable turnaround. Following their 5-16 start, Los Angeles went 16-3 in their next 19 games, transforming from playoff longshots to legitimate contenders. Kawhi Leonard led the NBA in scoring during this stretch, averaging 31.8 points per game. On January 24, 2026, Frank received a four-year contract extension, signaling organizational commitment to the current direction.

At the February trade deadline, a remarkable slew of trade movements rocked the team. The Clippers traded away James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a direct swap with Darius Garland arriving in Los Angeles. The Clippers also traded Ivica Zubac to Indiana for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks, and a second-round pick. 

Ownership and Front Office

Steve Ballmer has owned the Clippers since August 2014, purchasing the franchise for $2 billion. Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO, has an estimated net worth exceeding $120 billion, making him the wealthiest owner in professional sports. His financial commitment includes the $2 billion Intuit Dome, built entirely with private funding.

Lawrence Frank has served as President of Basketball Operations since 2017. Frank’s tenure has produced six playoff appearances in eight seasons, though the team has lost in the first round three consecutive years (2022-2024). Despite the 5-16 start in 2025-26, Frank received a four-year extension in January 2026.

Michael Winger serves as General Manager, assisting Frank with roster construction and organizational operations.

Coaching and Philosophy

Tyronn Lue became head coach on September 22, 2020, after Doc Rivers’ dismissal. Lue, who won an NBA championship with Cleveland in 2016, has compiled a 204-166 record with the Clippers. Despite three consecutive first-round exits and the disastrous 2025-26 start, Lue has maintained Ballmer’s support and remains central to the franchise’s future plans.

Arena and Facilities

The Clippers play home games at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, which opened for the 2024-25 season. The 18,000-seat arena features revolutionary technology, including The Wall (a seating section for 1,500 hardcore fans) and the Halo Board, a double-sided 4K scoreboard.

The franchise’s G League affiliate is the San Diego Clippers (formerly Agua Caliente Clippers), relocated from Ontario in 2024. The affiliate honors the franchise’s San Diego heritage.

Championships and Historical Record

The Clippers have never won an NBA championship or appeared in an NBA Finals. They are the oldest active franchise without a Finals appearance. The franchise has won two division titles (2013, 2014) and reached the conference finals once (2021).The franchise has made 19 playoff appearances total.