NBA History: 5 Greatest Los Angeles Clippers players of all time

The Clippers originally started out as the Buffalo Braves in 1970, then moving to San Diego in 1978 as the San Diego Clippers, and finally, to today's Los Angeles Clippers in 1984. Historically, the Clippers have not been a very good franchise; not seeing much success in the regular season or postseason.

However, since 2010, the Clippers started developing a young core in Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and improved their franchise by trading for Chris Paul. Since then, the Clippers have been much more successful, winning back-to-back division titles in 2013 and 2014. Since the move to Los Angeles, the Clippers have had some great players play for them.

In light of the recent move by the Clippers to acquire Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who will without a doubt someday be on this list as some of the greatest to play for the Clippers, here is a look at the 5 greatest Los Angeles Clippers players of all time:

#1. Chris Paul

Chris Paul played 6 seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, and was viewed by some as the best point guard in the NBA at the time. Paul helped the Clippers become contenders for a title, after being acquired through an extremely controversial trade in 2011.

In all his 6 seasons with the Clippers, they made the playoffs, however, they never managed to win a title. Paul, through his extraordinary passing ability, gave the Clippers its nickname - 'Lob City'. Paul's court vision and passing ability led to some spectacular alley oops, often to Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan, putting the Clippers on the map.

Paul was an all-star for 5 of his 6 seasons with the Clippers, and will probably go down as one of the greatest point guards of all time.

Throughout his career, Chris Paul has been a 9x All-Star, won ROTY, led the league in assists 4 times, and in steals 6 times.

#2. Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin is undoubtedly one of the best Clippers players ever. Drafted first by the Clippers in 2009, Griffin injured his knee during the preseason and missed the entirety of the 2009-10 season.

However, the following year, Griffin had an amazing rookie season. He set a franchise record for most consecutive double-doubles with 27 and set the franchise record for most points by a rookie with 47.

Griffin was selected to the all-star game and eventually won ROTY honors. In the following season, along with Chris Paul, Griffin helped the Clippers make the playoffs for the first time since 2006, and eventually, their first division title in 2013.

Griffin's athleticism allowed him to put on a show every night, making highlight reels with his dunking prowess.

Griffin elevated the Clippers franchise along with Deandre and Chris Paul, making the team relevant for the first time in years. Throughout his career, Griffin has been a 6x All-Star, won ROTY, is a slam dunk contest champion and has made 5 All-NBA teams.

#3. Elton Brand

Elton Brand, LAC

Elton Brand was traded to the Clippers in 2001, after two very successful seasons with the Bulls. The following year, he was selected to the All-Star team, the first Clipper since Danny Manning in 1994. Brand led the team to it's first Western Conference semi-finals, averaging 25 points and 10 rebounds.

Brand was the Clippers' centerpiece for a long time, and he managed to stay consistent and efficient throughout his 7-year run with the Clippers. Not only was he an excellent scorer for the Clippers, Brand was also a very talented defender. He averaged 2.3 blocks over his 7 seasons with the Clippers and was instrumental in their defense.

The once MVP candidate eventually left the team in 2008 for the 76ers, looking for a title, but he never won one. Brand, throughout his career, was a 2x All-Star, won Co-ROTY in 2000, and made one All-NBA team.

#4. DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan, once the face of the Clippers franchise, is a special player for the Clippers' fans. He was selected by the Clippers in the second round of the NBA draft, with the 35th pick, and worked his way towards the starting lineup. DeAndre's rebounding and dunks made the nickname 'Lob City' possible, throwing down emphatic dunks every night on the floor.

He led the league in rebounding two years with the Clippers, once averaging a career-high 15 rebounds a game. DeAndre Jordan was not only an excellent defensive player but also a threat to the offense.

Once he got into the paint, Jordan was dominant, eventually becoming one of the best centers in the league. His transformation from a second round pick to one of the best centers in the league is an unforgettable one for Clippers fans.

DeAndre is an NBA All-Star, has made 2 All-Defensive first teams, and led the league in rebounding twice.

#5. Danny Manning

Danny Manning, selected by the Clippers with the first pick in the 1988 draft, was one of the best forwards in the league when healthy. In his very first season, Manning showed a lot of talent, developing into one of the best forwards in the league very quickly.

However, he faced some problems with injuries, limiting his output on the floor.

Regardless of his knee injuries, Manning led the Clippers to two playoff appearances, ending a 16-year playoff drought. In the 1992-93 season, Manning averaged 23 points and 6.6 rebounds, making the first of his back-to-back All-Star selections.

Manning was eventually traded to the Atlanta Hawks for Dominique Wilkins and a first-round pick in 1994. He played a total of 6 seasons with the Clippers, averaging around 19 points and 6.4 rebounds. Manning was a 2x All-Star and won the 6th man of the year in 1988.

Edited by Zaid Khan