The Elgin Baylor & Bob McAdoo Years
Bob McAdoo's San Diego tenure defined this pre-LA relocation era.
This period of franchise history is frequently misunderstood due to regional associations with Lakers legend Elgin Baylor, who played his entire career for the rival Los Angeles Lakers and never officially represented the Clippers organization as a player or coach. The core of this era actually centers on Bob McAdoo's tenure with the San Diego Clippers during the late 1970s, before the franchise relocated to Los Angeles in 1984.
Lore & Background
The team operated as the San Diego Clippers during this window, playing at the San Diego Sports Arena. McAdoo's arrival was seen as an attempt to stabilize the roster and attract fans in Southern California prior to the eventual relocation to Los Angeles. However, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons in December 1979, and later played for Boston after his Clippers tenure, but his departure from the Clippers was to Detroit, not directly to Boston.
Reader's Guide
Bob McAdoo joined the team during the San Diego years, bringing star power to the roster in a small market environment. Ownership changed hands with Donald Sterling purchasing the club later, leading to the relocation to Los Angeles in 1984. This era marks the transition period between the Buffalo identity and the eventual establishment of the Los Angeles Clippers.
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