- 1978
- 1980
- 1984
-
Relocation to San Diego
In 1978, San Diego welcomed the relocation of the Buffalo Braves franchise because the city had lost their Rockets to Houston seven years earlier. San Diego team officials did not think Braves was a representative nickname for the club. A contest decided on Clippers because the city was known for the great sailing ships that passed through San Diego Bay. ... -
Add Homegrown Bill Walton
The 1979 – 1980 season saw the Clippers begin to struggle despite adding center Bill Walton, a San Diego native who was two years removed from an NBA Championship with the Trail Blazers. Walton missed 68 games due to foot injuries (which he also suffered in his final years in Portland). San Diego finished 35–47 as key players missed games ... -
Leaving San Diego for LA
The 1981 – 1982 season brought changes to the franchise as Irv Levin sold the team to Los Angeles-area real estate developer and attorney Donald Sterling for US$12.5 million. The Clippers’ poor play in the final years in San Diego resulted in averaging only 4,500 fans a game. Sterling lobbied the NBA to relocate the team to his native Los ...
History of the Clippers
Seven years after the Rockets blasted off for Houston, the NBA came sailing back into San Diego as the Braves moved from Buffalo changing their name to the Clippers. One of the Clippers' first big moves was the signing of Free Agent World B. Free who finished second in the NBA in scoring with 28.8 ppg. Also turning in a solid season was Randy Smith who had his 4th straight season over 20 ppg as the Clippers put together a 43-39 record. However, it would not be good enough for one of the 6 playoff spots in the Western Conference.
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
Clippers – In 1978, San Diego welcomed the relocation of the Buffalo Braves’ franchise because the city had lost their Rockets to Houston seven years earlier. San Diego team officials didn’t think Braves was a representative nickname for the club.
A contest decided on Clippers because the city was known for the great sailing ships that passed through San Diego Bay.
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
To qualify as a greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history