Los Angeles is a premium sports destination in the United States. As one of the biggest cities in the United States, LA has two NBA teams — the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Lakers are one of the most popular franchises in the NBA. They have had legends play for them since their early days when they were based in Minneapolis. With names such as Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal, and many more donning the purple-and-gold, the Lakers have established themselves in NBA lore and immortality.
The Clippers are more commonly known as the ‘half-brother’ of the Lakers. They have been in Los Angeles since 1985 and their franchise history is not as illustrious as the Lakers. But being in LA, they generate a lot of revenue and have become one of the most well-known teams in the league.
Today, the Lakers and Clippers have one of the most booming and engaging rivalries in the NBA. Being in the same city should be enough to spark debate and hype, but to top that the two teams have some iconic players playing for them. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis playing for the Lakers, and Kawhi Leonard and Paul George playing for the Clippers, every time the two teams meet is a spectacle. Dubbed ‘The Battle of LA’, these are games that players from each team have circled on their calendars, ready to suit up and head to war.
Why did the Clippers move to LA?
The Clippers were initially located in San Diego. However, after six years in the city, the team saw little to no success and missed the playoffs every season. In 1984, Clippers team owner Donald Sterling decided to move the team to Los Angeles and he did so without the approval of the NBA.
This caused huge controversy in the league and the NBA fined a lawsuit against Donald Sterling which lasted for three years. However, the reason for which the Clippers moved to Los Angeles was justified as the team saw unprecedented revenues while playing there. The Clippers shared the then-known Staples Center with the Lakers.
FAQs
A. Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers are the two teams in LA.
A. Yes, LeBron James plays for the Lakers.
A. Yes, the Clippers and Lakers play in the same city of Los Angeles.
A. No, the Clippers have not won a championship in their franchise history.
A. LeBron James is currently 38 years old.
