The Buffalo Braves history is an essential part of the NBA’s early expansion era. Founded in 1970, the Buffalo Braves basketball team played in Buffalo, New York, before later becoming the San Diego Clippers and then the LA Clippers. This journey from Buffalo to California shows how the franchise evolved, highlighting key players, memorable seasons, and the roots of a team that continues to compete in the league today.
Established
1970
City
Buffalo – San Diego – Los Angeles
League History
1970 – Present / National Basketball Association
Team History
1984 – Present / Los Angeles Clippers
1978 – 1984 / San Diego Clippers
1970 – 1978 / Buffalo Braves
Nickname
Braves – The Buffalo Braves were a professional basketball team that played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1970 to 1978. The name “Braves” was chosen by owner Paul Snyder, who wanted to honor the Native American heritage of Western New York.
Snyder had initially planned for his team to be named after an animal native to upstate New York – such as the Bison or Cougar – but he eventually settled on Braves because of its strong association with Native Americans and their culture. He hoped that this would help connect local fans with their new team and make them proud of it at the same time.
Buffalo Braves Origin
In addition, Snyder also believed that having a nickname associated with a tribe would give his franchise an edge over other teams in terms of marketing opportunities and merchandise sales, which proved successful during their eight years as members of the NBA's Eastern Division!
Even though they never won any championships while playing under this moniker, they still made two playoff appearances during those years (1974-75 & 1975-76). Furthermore, many notable players wore Buffalo Braves jerseys, including Hall Of Famers Bob McAdoo & Ernie DiGregorio and fan favorites Randy Smith & Gar Heard!
For sports fans looking for more information about how one small decision can have lasting effects on both history and culture alike - look no further than what happened when Paul Snyder chose "Braves" as his franchise's nickname back in 1970: A move which has helped shape not only how we view professional basketball today but also our understanding/appreciation for America’s indigenous people too!
Championship
NBA Championships 0
Arena
1999 – Present / Staples Center
1984 – 1999 / Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
*San Diego*
1978 – 1984 / San Diego Sports Arena
*Buffalo*
1970 – 1978 / Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Owner
2014 – Present / Steve Balmer
1981 – 2014 / Donald Sterling
1978 – 1981 / Irv Levin
1976 – 1978 / John Y. Brown, Jr.
1970 – 1976 / Paul Snyder
- 1970
- 1972
- 1978
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Buffalo Braves Team Formation
With a roster made up primarily of castoffs, the Buffalo Braves got off on the right foot by beating the Cleveland Cavilers 107-92 at Buffalo’s Historic Aud. on October 14th. However, the Braves would drop their next nine games as they took on established NBA teams on the way to finishing in the last place in the Atlantic Division with ... -
Drafted Bob McAdoo
Bob McAdoo sought and won early eligibility in the 1972 NBA draft. He was selected in the first round (second overall) by the Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers). McAdoo quickly became one of the NBA’s premier players. He won the 1973 NBA Rookie of the Year Award and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He earned ... -
Complicated Move to San Diego
Irv Levin who owned the Celtics wanted to move the historic franchise to California. However, the NBA would not allow him to take the cornerstone franchise out of Boston. NBA Lawyer David Stern would propose a novel comprise in which Levin and Brown swapped franchise with Levin taking over the Braves and moving them to San Diego. The Braves would ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Buffalo Braves History
The Buffalo Braves history begins in 1970 when the franchise joined the NBA as part of its expansion. Based in Buffalo, New York, the team played home games at Memorial Auditorium and quickly became a central part of the city’s sports identity. Known for fast-paced play, the Buffalo Braves basketball team helped shape the league’s growth during the 1970s before relocating to San Diego to become the San Diego Clippers in 1978, and later the Los Angeles Clippers.
The early years of the Buffalo Braves history included standout players such as Hall of Fame center Bob McAdoo and All-Star guard Randy Smith. McAdoo led the league in scoring for multiple seasons and won the NBA MVP Award in 1975, giving the franchise national attention. Randy Smith became an ironman of the league with a record-setting streak of consecutive games played and provided leadership on and off the court. Other notable contributors included Elmore Smith, Gar Heard, and future Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley, who all added depth to the roster.
Braves Achievements
Under head coach Jack Ramsay, the team reached the playoffs three straight seasons from 1973–1976, an impressive feat for a young franchise. Their best run came in the 1973–74 and 1974–75 seasons, when the Buffalo Braves basketball team posted winning records and advanced deep into the playoffs. In 1974, they recorded 49 wins and pushed the Eastern Conference Semifinals to a hard-fought seven games.
These playoff appearances solidified the Buffalo Braves history as one of the NBA’s most exciting expansion stories of that decade. Although they never reached the Finals, the team produced an MVP, multiple All-Stars, and thrilling playoff battles against teams like the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. Even after relocating, the legacy of the Buffalo Braves basketball years remains a key chapter in the franchise’s evolution into the modern-day Los Angeles Clippers.
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history