The League Leader

From the Buffalo Braves to the San Diego Clippers, the currently known Los Angeles Clippers has been in the league for over 53 year. However, they are the 2nd oldest NBA team to never win a single championship. Making matters worse, the Clippers also have the second worse win-loss percentage in all 30 franchises. Throughout their franchise’s history, there has been plenty of unfortunate events, playoff failures, and many more. This is the complete breakdown of the Clipper’s 53 years Curse that haunts them to this day.

The Bob McAdoo Era

Founded in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves, the Clippers could barely win in their first season like most expansion teams. Luckily for them, in the 1972 NBA Draft, the Clippers selected a pick that would change their history for the following decade, Bob McAdoo. The five times all-star brought the Clippers to their first playoff appearance in 1973, which was followed by 2 more back-to-back 2nd round exits.

In 1975, the three times Scoring Champion won the first and only MVP in the Clippers franchise history. Although the MVP found much individual success, there wasn’t enough help and playoff success to convince him to stay. Finishing the 1976 season, the franchise Superstar left the Braves for the New York Knicks. By the 85-86 season, the former MVP was honored 5 all-star appearances, 2 NBA Championships and retired as a 76ers.

Playoff Drought

After Bob McAdoo’s departure, the Braves was lost in a 15 years playoff drought before returning in the 91-92 season with a team led by Danning Manning and Ron Harper. The Core led the renamed Clippers to 3 playoff appearances in the 1990s before another long drought. Losing the core players, the Clippers only made 1 playoff appearance in the following 14 seasons.

Lob City Era

After only 4 playoff appearances in nearly 30 seasons, the Los Angeles Clippers finally found themselves as a contender for the first time in franchise history when a trade landed unexpectedly. In the trade deadline of 2011, a trade that was supposed to send Chris Paul to the Lakers to pair up with Kobe Bryant was overrode by Former Commissioner David Stern. The trade destination for Chris Paul took a small turn and ended up being the Los Angeles Clippers.

In the first season that Chris Paul landed by Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, the Clippers successfully clinched their second semi-finals appearance since the departure of Bob Mcadoo 36 years ago. However, as the Lob City Clippers came to the rise of their powers, a bigger Western Conference powerhouse emerged. The Stephen Curry led Golden State Warriors dominated the Western Conference Finals as the Spurs Dynasty came to an end.

The Clippers would go on to clinch 6 more playoff appearances in 7 years. However, even before the eventual departure of Blake Griffin, the Clippers blew multiple playoff leads that would’ve reshaped history and never got past the second round of the playoffs

Kawhi and PG

Things went down after the Clippers loss their key players in the Lob City Era. They were desperate as another long playoff drought was expected to be awaiting. Fortunately for the Clippers, the 2019 NBA offseason became one of the greatest offseason in sports history. The Clippers managed to sign Kawhi Leonard, who just came off one of the best individual playoff run and a FMVP title. Additionally, the Clippers sent out their entire future for All-NBA forward Paul George. Over night, the Clippers looked like the best team in the NBA.

Although the 2020 Bubble was a odd season, the Clippers made the playoffs with their Superstar duo. However, they eventually blew a huge lead to the Jokic led Nuggets in the second round. In 2021, the Clippers made their way to the Conference finals for the first time in franchise history, which was followed by a Play-in appearance in 2022 and a first round exit in 2023. However, they never really lived up to the hype. The Clippers blew multiple leads and was strangled with injuries for the following years even to this day.

The End of the Curse?

We don’t know when this curse will end or if it ever will. Overall, we can only hope things would work out in the future for the Clippers to make a push through spots they’ve never reached in the future. Anyhow, for now, it is safe to say that the Clippers are one of the most cursed teams in American Sports history and we have no idea when the curse might come to an end.