No Dunks Allowed
From Buffalo to Los Angeles: The Clippers' journey of resilience.
The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The team plays its home games at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, beginning with the 2024–25 NBA season. Previously, the Clippers played their home games at Staples Center (renamed Crypto.com Arena in 2021) in Los Angeles from 1999 to 2024, which they had shared with the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). They are frequently referred to by their fans as "the Clips" or "LAC".
Quick Facts
- Home arena
- Intuit Dome (beginning 2024–25)
- previously Staples Center
- Crypto.com Arena (1999–2000 to 2023–24)
Lore & Background
The franchise was founded as the Buffalo Braves in 1970 as an expansion team. Led by Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo, the Braves reached the NBA playoffs three times during their eight seasons in Buffalo. Conflicts with the Canisius Golden Griffins over Buffalo Memorial Auditorium and the sale of the franchise led to their relocation from Buffalo to San Diego, California, in 1978 and subsequent rebranding as the San Diego Clippers. The team saw little success on the court and missed the playoffs during all six of their years in San Diego. In 1984, owner Donald Sterling controversially relocated the franchise to Los Angeles without NBA approval, which was permitted following legal action between the league and Sterling. Over the course of their first 27 seasons in Los Angeles, the Clippers qualified for the postseason only four times and won a single playoff round. As a result, they have been frequently described as a perennial loser in American professional sports, drawing unfavorable comparisons to the historically successful Lakers. The Clippers' reputation improved during the 2010s, which saw them transform into consistent postseason contenders. Aided by the Lob City lineup of Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and Chris Paul, the team qualified for the playoffs in six consecutive seasons from 2012 to 2017 and won two consecutive division titles in 2013 and 2014, both firsts for the franchise. Despite this success, the Clippers struggled in the postseason and were frequently eliminated in the Conference Semifinals; the team reached the conference finals for the first time in 2021. To date, they are the oldest franchise in North American professional sports to have never played in a championship game.
Reader's Guide
The franchise began in Western New York as the Buffalo Braves, one of three NBA expansion franchises that began play in the 1970–71 season. After two bad seasons, the Braves' fortunes started to change under coach Jack Ramsay and star center Bob McAdoo. McAdoo led the NBA in scoring for three consecutive seasons and was named the league's MVP in the 1974–75 season. The Braves qualified for the playoffs three times in a row. Despite the team's modest success in Buffalo, Braves owner Paul Snyder and the league found it impossible to schedule home games at the auditorium because of the Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball team, which had a pre-existing lease on the arena and priority on game dates over the Braves. After a failed attempt to sell the team to an owner who intended to move it to South Florida, Snyder sold the team to Kentucky Colonels owner John Y. Brown, Jr., who decimated the team's roster and drove attendance down. Eventually, Brown met with Celtics owner Irv Levin in 1978 so they could trade franchise ownerships. Southern California resident Levin then decided to move the Braves to San Diego. In 1978, San Diego welcomed the Braves franchise to the city. San Diego team officials did not think "Braves" was a proper representative nickname for the club in San Diego, and a local naming contest ultimately decided on "Clippers", in reference to the city being known for the great sailing ships that passed through San Diego Bay. The 1978–79 season started poorly, but by the All-Star game the Clippers had improved, winning half of their 54 games. Playing at the San Diego Sports Arena, the Clippers posted a record of 43–39 in their first season in California, leaving them two wins shy of the final playoff spot. The 1979–80 season saw the Clippers begin to struggle, despite adding center Bill Walton. San Diego finished 35–47. The following season, the Clippers finished 36–46, again missing the postseason. The 1981–82 season brought ultimately unwelcome changes to the franchise as Levin sold the team to Los Angeles–area real estate developer and attorney Donald Sterling for $12.5 million. The Clippers experienced poor play, and the team limped to a 17–65 record. Rumors of a move to Sterling's hometown of Los Angeles and franchise mismanagement plagued the team immediately from the onset of Sterling's acquisition.
Origins and Relocation
The franchise originated in Western New York as the Buffalo Braves in 1970, one of three NBA expansion teams that began play in the 1970–71 season, along with the Portland Trail Blazers and Cleveland Cavaliers. They played home games at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, sharing it with the NHL's Buffalo Sabres. Under coach Jack Ramsay and star center Bob McAdoo, who led the NBA in scoring for three consecutive seasons and was named MVP in 1974–75, the Braves qualified for the playoffs three times in a row, losing twice to eventual Eastern Conference champions (the Boston Celtics in 1974 and 1976, and the Washington Bullets in 1975). However, scheduling conflicts with the Canisius Golden Griffins, who had a pre-existing lease and priority on game dates, made it impossible to secure home dates. After a failed attempt to sell the team to an owner who intended to move it to South Florida, owner Paul Snyder sold to John Y. Brown, Jr., who traded away stars and drove attendance down. In 1978, Brown met with Celtics owner Irv Levin to swap franchise ownerships; Levin, a Southern California resident, moved the Braves to San Diego, citing a shorter commute as a key reason.
The San Diego Era
In 1978, the Braves franchise moved to San Diego, where a local naming contest chose 'Clippers' in reference to sailing ships in San Diego Bay. The first head coach was Gene Shue, who favored a fast playing style. Only three players from the Braves remained: Randy Smith, Swen Nater, and Scott Lloyd. World B. Free was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers. The 1978–79 season started poorly, with the first win in the fourth game and 12 losses in the first 18 games. The worst loss was 163–125 to the San Antonio Spurs. Free finished second in NBA scoring with 28.9 points per game. The team improved to win eight straight games and then five more, finishing 43–39, two wins shy of a playoff spot. The 1979–80 season saw the addition of center Bill Walton, a San Diego native and former NBA MVP, but he missed 68 games due to foot injuries; the team finished 35–47. Paul Silas replaced Shue as head coach the next season, and the Clippers finished 36–46, again missing the postseason. In 1981–82, Donald Sterling bought the team for $12.5 million, and the Clippers went 17–65. Sterling was fined $10,000 for guaranteeing losses to get a high draft pick, and he violated league rules by flying players in coach seats. The team missed the playoffs in all six San Diego seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is No Dunks Allowed in Clippers history?
This term does not exist within the official franchise canon and is actually a common misconception among new fans. The organization has never enforced such a rule, as dunking remains a celebrated part of their offensive style.
Why is dunking associated with the Clippers' culture instead of being banned?
Star players like Blake Griffin popularized high-flying basketball during the 2011-2013 era, making dunks a signature element of their identity. The fanbase celebrates these athletic displays rather than restricting them on the court.
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