A Basic History of the Los Angeles Clippers Basketball Team

The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team that plays in the National Basketball Association. The Clippers play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the NBA.

The Los Angeles Clippers are currently owned by Donald Sterling and coached by Mike Dunleavy, Sr. The official colors of the Los Angeles Clippers are red, white, and blue.

The franchise was founded in 1970 in Buffalo, New York, when the team was known as the Buffalo Braves. From 1970-1978, the Buffalo Braves played their home games in Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. While in Buffalo, the team also played occasional home games in Maple Leaf Gardens.

In 1978, the Buffalo Braves moved their franchise to San Diego, California and became the San Diego Clippers. The San Diego Clippers played all of their home games in the San Diego Sports Arena.

In 1984, the team moved once again, this time to Los Angles, becoming the Los Angeles Clippers. From 1984-1999, the Clippers played their home games in the Los Angles Memorial Sports Arena. From 1994-1999, the Clippers occasionally would play home games at Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, home of the NHL's Anaheim Mighty Ducks. The franchise nearly moved to Anaheim at one point, but the Clippers instead moved into the Staples Center in 1999. The Clippers and Lakers have shared the Staples Center since 1999.

The Los Angeles Clippers franchise has historically been known as one of the worst teams in the NBA. The franchise has never won an NBA Championship. In fact, the franchise has never won a single conference or division title either.

Bob McAdoo and Bill Walton are the only two players in the National Basketball Hall of Fame to have played a significant amount of time with the Clippers franchise.

McAdoo played for the Buffalo Braves from 1973-1977. He was the center and wore number 11. Walton played for the franchise from 1979-1985, with all of the years except the last being in San Diego. Walton was the center and wore number 32.

Dominique Wilkins is the only other former Clippers player to be in the Hall of Fame. Wilkins joined the Los Angeles Clippers at the end of his career, playing for them during the 1994 season at small forward.

Former head coach for the franchise, Dr. Jack Ramsay, is also in the Hall of Fame. He coached the Buffalo Braves from 1973-1976.

Elgin Baylor, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his playing career, has served as the general manager of the Los Angeles Clippers since 1986.