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Starting as the Buffalo Braves in 1970 as part of the NBA’s expansion at that time along with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers, the Los Angeles Clippers were one of the worst franchises in all of sports until 2014 when Steve Ballmer took over as the owner.
Enjoying moderate success in their eight years in Buffalo with just three playoff appearances, the Clippers relocated to San Diego in 1978. The team continued to struggle in their new city as they were purchased by Donald Sterling in 1981. Sterling then moved his team to Los Angeles due to the poor attendance in San Diego.
The team under Sterling only made the playoffs seven times, three of which came during the Blake Griffin Era. It was a combination of bad ownership and bad front office as the Clippers were poorly run and being neighbors with the Lakers did not help.
Nevertheless, the Clippers have produced several great players that made the team’s all-time starting five.
Center – Bob McAdoo
One of the best centers to ever play the game, Bob McAdoo was the first star of the franchise. McAdoo was ahead of his time for his position as he could shoot and he could run. He won Rookie of the Year in 1972 and was a three-time All-Star in his time with the Buffalo Braves.
McAdoo even won the NBA MVP in 1975 when he averaged 34.5 points, 14.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game. He still ranks third in the franchise’s all-time scoring list despite playing just four seasons in Buffalo. He was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.
Honorable Mention: Center – DeAndre Jordan
One of the longest-tenured players in Clippers history, DeAndre Jordan was with the team from 2008 until 2018. Jordan slowly improved as he got older and became one of the best defensive big men in the NBA. It culminated in 2016 when he was named to the All-NBA First Team while also making his first All-Star appearance in 2017.
Guard – Randy Smith
A known scorer, Randy Smith spent eight seasons with the Braves and Clippers. He teamed up with Bob McAdoo in Buffalo to help the team make the playoffs three times. They even got close to making the Western Conference Finals in 1976 but fell to eventual champions Boston Celtics in six games.
Smith sits first in the Clippers’ all-time scoring list, total minutes played, and steals. He also ranks second in assists and the single-season record for steals with 203. He was also a two-time All-Star while the Braves/Clippers franchise. He sadly died in 2009 when he suffered a heart attack. It’s a shame that his jersey has not been retired by the Clippers.
Honorable Mention: Guard – Corey Maggette
A vital part of the Clippers’ mid-2000s team, Maggette helped the team made the 2006 playoffs. He ranks fifth in the team’s all-time scoring list and minutes played, tenth in steals, and fifth in three-pointers made.
Guard – Chris Paul
The best point guard in Clippers history and one of the greatest at his position in NBA history, Chris Paul helped the team become perennial contenders. Acquired via a controversial trade in 2011, Paul spent six seasons in Los Angeles and the Clippers made the playoffs six times. However, they never made it past the second round.
Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2017, leaving a great legacy in Lob City. He ranks sixth in total points scored, first in assists, second in steals, and fourth in three-pointers made. He was also a five-time All-Star during his time with the Clippers, making the All-NBA First Team three times and the All-NBA Second Team twice.
Honorable Mention: Guard – Ron Harper
Before he became a part of the Chicago Bulls’ second three-peat in the second half of the 1990s, Ron Harper was a star for the Clippers. He was a 20-point scorer in Los Angeles, helping the team make the playoffs twice. He spent five seasons with the Clippers before signing with the Bulls as a free agent in 1994.
Forward – Elton Brand
The heart and soul of the Clippers in the 2000s, Elton Brand led the team to their only playoff appearance of the decade in 2006. Brand was an MVP candidate during that season as he helped the team reach the Western Conference semifinals. In seven seasons with the Clippers, he was a two-time All-Star and he was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2006.
Brand ranks fourth in all-time franchise scoring and minutes played, second in rebounds, ninth in steals, and third in blocks. The Clippers have not retired any jerseys and if they decide to retire one, Brand’s No. 42 is surely on the shortlist.
Honorable Mention: Forward – Danny Manning
Touted as the savior of the Clippers, Danny Manning was selected first overall in the 1988 NBA Draft. He had his best years within the Los Angeles, nabbing two All-Star game appearances. He spent five and a half seasons with the Clippers before bouncing around the league. Injuries prevented him from fulfilling his potential.
Forward – Blake Griffin
Probably the greatest Clippers player ever, Blake Griffin revitalized the franchise after being drafted first overall in 2009. He missed the entire first season of his career due to injury but he lived up to the hype the next year. He was a five-time All-Star with the Clippers, making the All-NBA team four times. Griffin also had one of the best rookie campaigns in recent memory.
Griffin, along with Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan, helped the Clippers win their first-ever Pacific Division title in 2013. He sits second in all-time points scored for the franchise, third in minutes played, third in rebounds, fifth in assists, and sixth in steals. He was traded to the Detroit Pistons in 2018 but his No. 32 jersey will surely be retired by the Clippers.
Honorable Mention: Forward – Loy Vaught
Spending eight seasons with the Clippers from 1990 to 1998, Loy Vaught was not a household name but he carved out a good career with the team. He helped the team make the playoffs three times in the 1990s. Vaught sits ninth in scoring, fourth in rebounds, and seventh in steals in the Clippers’ all-time leaderboard.
