The Clippers hosting the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the 2015 NBA playoffs first round series.

The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and are a member of the NBA Western Conference's Pacific Division. The Clippers were founded in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves. They were one of three franchises that joined the NBA as an expansion team in the 1970–71 season. The Braves moved to San Diego, California after the 1977–78 season, and became known as the San Diego Clippers.[1] For the 1984–85 NBA season, the Clippers moved north to Los Angeles and became known as the Los Angeles Clippers.

On October 14, 1970, the Braves beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 107–92 in their first game.[1] In the 1972 NBA draft, the Braves selected Bob McAdoo,[2] who later won such awards as Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player.[3] During McAdoo's years (1972–76) with the franchise,[4] the Braves reached the post-season three times and had a record of nine wins and 13 losses during that time.

Overall, the Clippers have qualified for the post-season sixteen times; most recently in the 2020–21 season. They passed the first round of the playoffs seven times (1975–76, 2005–06, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2019–20 and 2020–21). The Clippers have never won league or Conference titles. Their 51-year drought between entering Western Conference finals (before doing so in 2020–21) is one of the longest in league history and the 30-year drought between winning a playoffs round (before doing so in 2005–06) is the longest in league history.[5] They also have only sixteen seasons with a winning percentage of .500 or better, and as a result, in their April 17, 2000 issue, the Sports Illustrated had three Clippers fans on the cover that stated "The worst franchise in sports history".[6] A decade later, the additions of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul helped them win their first division title during the 2012–13 season, their 43rd year in the league, and they repeated the feat the following year.[7] Paul and Griffin departed in 2017, and after a short transition period, the Clippers signed All-Stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in 2019.

Table key

A basketball player is signing a basketball
Sam Cassell was the co-captain of the Clippers during their 2005–06 post-season appearance.[8]
Finish Final position in league or division standings
GB Games behind first-place team in division[a]
ASG MVP All-Star Game Most Valuable Player
EOY Executive of the Year
MVP Most Valuable Player
ROY Rookie of the Year
MIP Most Improved Player
W Number of regular season wins
L Number of regular season losses

Seasons

Note: Statistics are correct as of the end of the 2022–23 season.

League champions Conference champions Division champions Playoff berth
Season Team League Conference Finish Division Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Playoffs Awards Head Coach
Buffalo Braves
1970–71 1970–71 NBA Eastern 7th Atlantic 4th 22 60 .268 30 — Dolph Schayes
1971–72 1971–72 NBA Eastern 8th Atlantic 4th 22 60 .268 34 — Dolph Schayes
Johnny McCarthy
1972–73 1972–73 NBA Eastern 7th Atlantic 3rd 21 61 .256 47 Bob McAdoo (ROY) Jack Ramsay
1973–74 1973–74 NBA Eastern 4th Atlantic 3rd 42 40 .512 14 Lost conference semifinals (Celtics) 4–2[9] Ernie DiGregorio (ROY)
Eddie Donovan (EOY)
1974–75 1974–75 NBA Eastern 3rd Atlantic 2nd 49 33 .598 11 Lost conference semifinals (Bullets) 4–3[10] Bob McAdoo (MVP)
1975–76 1975–76 NBA Eastern 5th Atlantic 2nd 46 36 .561 8 Won First round (76ers) 2–1
Lost conference semifinals (Celtics) 4–2[11] 		—
1976–77 1976–77 NBA Eastern 10th Atlantic 4th 30 52 .366 20 Adrian Dantley (ROY) Tates Locke
Bob MacKinnon
Joe Mullaney
1977–78 1977–78 NBA Eastern 10th Atlantic 4th 27 55 .329 28 Randy Smith (ASG MVP) Cotton Fitzsimmons
San Diego Clippers
1978–79 1978–79[b] NBA Western 7th Pacific 5th 43 39 .524 9 — Gene Shue
1979–80 1979–80 NBA Western 7th Pacific 5th 35 47 .427 25 —
1980–81 1980–81 NBA Western 9th Pacific 5th 36 46 .439 21 — Paul Silas
1981–82 1981–82 NBA Western 12th Pacific 6th 17 65 .207 40 —
1982–83 1982–83 NBA Western 11th Pacific 6th 25 57 .305 33 Terry Cummings (ROY)
1983–84 1983–84 NBA Western 11th Pacific 6th 30 52 .366 24 — Jim Lynam
Los Angeles Clippers
1984–85 1984–85[c] NBA Western 11th Pacific 4th 31 51 .378 31 — Jim Lynam
Don Chaney
1985–86 1985–86 NBA Western 10th Pacific 3rd 32 50 .390 30 — Don Chaney
1986–87 1986–87 NBA Western 12th Pacific 6th 12 70 .146 53 —
1987–88 1987–88 NBA Western 12th Pacific 6th 17 65 .207 45 — Gene Shue
1988–89 1988–89 NBA Western 11th Pacific 7th 21 61 .256 36 — Gene Shue
Don Casey
1989–90 1989–90 NBA Western 11th Pacific 6th 30 52 .366 33 — Don Casey
1990–91 1990–91 NBA Western 10th Pacific 6th 31 51 .378 32 — Mike Schuler
1991–92 1991–92 NBA Western 7th Pacific 5th 45 37 .549 12 Lost First round (Jazz) 3–2[12] — Mike Schuler
Mack Calvin
Larry Brown
1992–93 1992–93 NBA Western 7th Pacific 4th 41 41 .500 21 Lost First round (Rockets) 3–2[13] — Larry Brown
1993–94 1993–94 NBA Western 11th Pacific 7th 27 55 .329 36 — Bob Weiss
1994–95 1994–95 NBA Western 13th Pacific 7th 17 65 .207 42 — Bill Fitch
1995–96 1995–96 NBA Western 11th Pacific 7th 29 53 .354 35 —
1996–97 1996–97 NBA Western 8th Pacific 5th 36 46 .439 21 Lost First round (Jazz) 3–0[14] —
1997–98 1997–98 NBA Western 13th Pacific 7th 17 65 .207 44 —
1998–99[d] 1998–99 NBA Western 13th Pacific 7th 9 41 .180 26 — Chris Ford
1999–00 1999–2000 NBA Western 14th Pacific 7th 15 67 .183 52 — Chris Ford
Jim Todd
2000–01 2000–01 NBA Western 12th Pacific 6th 31 51 .378 25 — Alvin Gentry
2001–02 2001–02 NBA Western 9th Pacific 5th 39 43 .476 22 —
2002–03 2002–03 NBA Western 13th Pacific 7th 27 55 .329 32 — Alvin Gentry
Dennis Johnson
2003–04 2003–04 NBA Western 14th Pacific 7th 28 54 .341 28 — Mike Dunleavy
2004–05 2004–05 NBA Western 10th Pacific 3rd 37 45 .451 25 Bobby Simmons (MIP)
2005–06 2005–06 NBA Western 6th Pacific 2nd 47 35 .573 7 Won First round (Nuggets) 4–1
Lost conference semifinals (Suns) 4–3[16] 		Elgin Baylor (EOY)
Elton Brand (SPOR)
2006–07 2006–07 NBA Western 9th Pacific 4th 40 42 .488 21 —
2007–08 2007–08 NBA Western 12th Pacific 5th 23 59 .280 34 —
2008–09 2008–09 NBA Western 14th Pacific 4th 19 63 .232 46 —
2009–10 2009–10 NBA Western 12th Pacific 3rd 29 53 .354 28 — Mike Dunleavy
Kim Hughes
2010–11 2010–11 NBA Western 13th Pacific 4th 32 50 .390 25 Blake Griffin (ROY) Vinny Del Negro
2011–12[e] 2011–12 NBA Western 5th Pacific 2nd 40 26 .606 1 Won First round (Grizzlies) 4–3
Lost conference semifinals (Spurs) 4–0[18] 		—
2012–13 2012–13 NBA Western 4th Pacific 1st 56 26 .683 – Lost First round (Grizzlies) 4–2[19] Chris Paul (ASG MVP)
2013–14 2013–14 NBA Western 3rd Pacific 1st 57 25 .695 – Won First round (Warriors) 4–3
Lost conference semifinals (Thunder) 4–2[20] 		Jamal Crawford (SIX) Doc Rivers
2014–15 2014–15 NBA Western 3rd Pacific 2nd 56 26 .683 11 Won First round (Spurs) 4–3
Lost conference semifinals (Rockets) 4–3[21] 		—
2015–16 2015–16 NBA Western 4th Pacific 2nd 53 29 .646 20 Lost First round (Trail Blazers) 4–2[22] Jamal Crawford (SIX)
2016–17 2016–17 NBA Western 4th Pacific 2nd 51 31 .622 16 Lost First round (Jazz) 4–3[23] —
2017–18 2017–18 NBA Western 10th Pacific 2nd 42 40 .512 16 Lou Williams (SIX)
2018–19 2018-19 NBA Western 8th Pacific 2nd 48 34 .585 9 Lost First round (Warriors) 4–2[24] Lou Williams (SIX)
2019–20 2019–20 NBA Western 2nd Pacific 2nd 49 23 .681 3.5 Won First round (Mavericks) 4–2
Lost conference semifinals (Nuggets) 4–3[25] 		Montrezl Harrell (SIX)
Lawrence Frank (EOY)
Kawhi Leonard (ASG MVP)
2020–21 2020–21 NBA Western 4th Pacific 2nd 47 25 .653 4 Won First round (Mavericks) 4–3
Won conference semifinals (Jazz) 4–2
Lost conference finals (Suns) 4–2[26] 		— Tyronn Lue
2021–22 2021–22 NBA Western 9th[f] Pacific 3rd 42 40 .512 22 —
2022–23 2022–23 NBA Western 5th Pacific 3rd 44 38 .537 4 Lost First round (Suns) 4–1[28] —

All-time records

Note: Statistics are correct as of the end of the 2022–23 season.

Statistic Wins Losses W–L%
Buffalo Braves regular season record (1970–1978) 259 397 .395
San Diego Clippers regular season record (1978–1984) 186 306 .378
Los Angeles Clippers regular season record (1984–present) 1,347 1,783 .430
All-time regular season record 1,792 2,486 .419
Buffalo Braves post-season record (1970–1978) 9 13 .409
San Diego Clippers post-season record (1978–1984) 0 0 —
Los Angeles Clippers post-season record (1984–present) 54 66 .450
All-time post-season record 63 79 .444
All-time regular and post-season record 1,855 2,565 .420

Notes

  1. ^ The formula is:
  2. ^ The team relocated to San Diego, California.
  3. ^ The team relocated to Los Angeles, California.
  4. ^ Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999, and all 29 teams played a shortened 50 game regular season schedule.[15]
  5. ^ Due to a lockout, the season did not start until December 25, 2011 and all 30 teams played a shortened 66 game regular season schedule.[17]
  6. ^ Fell to the 9th seed after losing to the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA play-in tournament.[27]

References

General
Specific
  1. ^ a b "The Official Page of the Buffalo Braves". NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  2. ^ "1972–1976 NBA Drafts". The Association for Professional Basketball Research. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  3. ^ "Los Angeles Clippers Records" (PDF). NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. p. 79 (2 of 21). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 28, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  4. ^ "Bob McAdoo". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  5. ^ Reid, Jason (May 2, 2006). "Series Is a Breakout Hit". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
  6. ^ "SIVault". Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. SI.com. Archived from the original on September 8, 2010. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  7. ^ Eric Patten (April 7, 2013). "CLIPPERS WIN FIRST PACIFIC DIVISION TITLE". Los Angeles Clippers official website. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  8. ^ Reid, Jason (February 26, 2006). "Cassell Proves to Be the Real Steal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  9. ^ "1973–74 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  10. ^ "1974–75 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  11. ^ "1975–76 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  12. ^ "1991–92 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  13. ^ "1992–93 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  14. ^ "1996–97 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  15. ^ Donovan, John (February 4, 1999). "Let the semi-season begin: Expect injuries, intensity and a new champion in '99". CNN Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  16. ^ "2005–06 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  17. ^ Beck, Howard (November 28, 2011). "Two Exhibition Games for N.B.A. Teams". The New York Times. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
  18. ^ "2011–12 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  19. ^ "2012–13 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  20. ^ "2013–14 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  21. ^ "2014–15 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  22. ^ "2015–16 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  23. ^ "2016–17 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  24. ^ "2018–19 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  25. ^ "2018–20 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  26. ^ "2020–21 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  27. ^ "Play-In Game: New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Clippers Box Score, April 15, 2022". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  28. ^ "2022–23 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 25, 2023.

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