Quick Intro: Los Angeles Clippers History

A lot has happened in Los Angeles Clippers history—a lot, except for winning, that is. This franchise got its start in 1970 but has only six winning seasons to its credit.

The team started as the Buffalo Braves and while playing eight seasons in Buffalo, made the playoffs only three times, never advancing far in the playoffs despite the presence of Bob McAdoo, one of the best players in franchise/Los Angeles Clippers history. He was named league MPV in 1974-1975 and in 1973-1974 was the last player in league history to average 30 points and 15 rebounds per game.

Prior to the 1978 season, team owner John Brown, discouraged by low ticket sales, swapped franchises with Boston Celtics owner Irv Levin. Levin wanted to move a franchise to California, which he did with the Braves, taking them to San Diego and renaming them the Clippers.

After several lackluster years in San Diego, the team was sold again in 1982, to Donald Sterling, who moved them to Los Angeles. Throughout the decade the team was not good, including a 12-70 record in 1986-1987, the worst in Los Angeles Clippers history.

In the late 1980s, legendary Elgin Baylor joined the team as general manager and he made a number of trades, resulting in some of the most success in Los Angeles Clippers history. Successful coach Larry Brown was brought in and in 1991-1992 the team achieved something never before done in Los Angeles Clippers history—they finished with a better record than the Los Angeles Lakers, making the playoffs for the first time in 16 years.

In the late 2000’s the team surged again, an in 2005-2006 they made the playoffs, going up 2-0 against a team in the playoffs for the first time in Los Angeles Clippers history.  The team lost in the western conference semifnals that year to the Phoenix Suns. By the end of the decade, however, the team was again in disarray, punctuated by the departure of long-time front-office man Baylor.

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