List of Los Angeles Clippers seasons

The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and are a member of the NBA Western Conference's Pacific Division. The Clippers were founded in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves. They were one of three franchises that joined the NBA as an expansion team in the 1970–71 season. The Braves moved to San Diego, California after the 1977–78 season, and became known as the San Diego Clippers.[1] For the 1984–85 NBA season, the Clippers moved north to Los Angeles and became known as the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers hosting the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the 2015 NBA Playoffs first round series.

On October 14, 1970, the Braves beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 107–92 in their first game.[1] In the 1972 NBA Draft, the Braves selected Bob McAdoo,[2] who later won such awards as Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player.[3] During McAdoo's years (1972–76) with the franchise,[4] the Braves reached the post-season three times and had a record of nine wins and 13 losses during that time.

Overall, the Clippers have qualified for the post-season fifteen times; most recently in the 2019–20 season. They passed the first round of the playoffs five times (1975–76, 2005–06, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15 and 2019–20). The Clippers have never won league or Conference titles. In their 50-year history, they have never been to a Western Conference Finals and the 30-year drought between winning a playoffs round (before doing so in 2005–06) is the longest in league history.[5] They also have only sixteen seasons with a winning percentage of .500 or better, and as a result, in their April 17, 2000 issue, the Sports Illustrated had three Clippers fans on the cover that stated "The worst franchise in sports history".[6] However, with the additions of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, they made steady progress as a title contender in recent years. They won their first division title in the 2012–13 season, their 43rd year in the league, and repeated the following year.[7] Chris Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets for eight players and a 2018 draft pick, after the 2017 season.

Table key

Sam Cassell was the co-captain of the Clippers during their 2005–06 post-season appearance.[8]

Finish	Final position in league or division standings
GB	Games behind first-place team in division[lower-alpha 1]
L	Number of regular season losses
AMVP	All-Star Game Most Valuable Player
EOY	Executive of the Year
MVP	Most Valuable Player
ROY	Rookie of the Year
MIP	Most Improved Player
SPOR	Sportsmanship Award
W	Number of regular season wins

Seasons

Note: Statistics are correct as of the end of the 2019–20 season.

League champions

Conference champions

Division champions

Playoff berth

Season	Team	League	Conference	Finish	Division	Finish	Wins	Losses	Win%	GB	Playoffs	Awards
Buffalo Braves
1970–71	1970–71	NBA	Eastern	7th	Atlantic	4th	22	60	.268	30		—
1971–72	1971–72	NBA	Eastern	8th	Atlantic	4th	22	60	.268	34		—
1972–73	1972–73	NBA	Eastern	7th	Atlantic	3rd	21	61	.256	47		Bob McAdoo (ROY)
1973–74	1973–74	NBA	Eastern	4th	Atlantic	3rd	42	40	.512	14	Lost Conference Semifinals (Celtics) 4–2[9]	Ernie DiGregorio (ROY) Eddie Donovan (EOY)
1974–75	1974–75	NBA	Eastern	3rd	Atlantic	2nd	49	33	.598	11	Lost Conference Semifinals (Bullets) 4–3[10]	Bob McAdoo (MVP)
1975–76	1975–76	NBA	Eastern	5th	Atlantic	2nd	46	36	.561	8	Won First Round (76ers) 2–1 Lost Conference Semifinals (Celtics) 4–2[11]	—
1976–77	1976–77	NBA	Eastern	10th	Atlantic	4th	30	52	.366	20		Adrian Dantley (ROY)
1977–78	1977–78	NBA	Eastern	10th	Atlantic	4th	27	55	.329	28		Randy Smith (AMVP)
San Diego Clippers
1978–79	1978–79[lower-alpha 2]	NBA	Western	7th	Pacific	5th	43	39	.524	9		—
1979–80	1979–80	NBA	Western	7th	Pacific	5th	35	47	.427	25		—
1980–81	1980–81	NBA	Western	9th	Pacific	5th	36	46	.439	21		—
1981–82	1981–82	NBA	Western	12th	Pacific	6th	17	65	.207	40		—
1982–83	1982–83	NBA	Western	11th	Pacific	6th	25	57	.305	33		Terry Cummings (ROY)
1983–84	1983–84	NBA	Western	11th	Pacific	6th	30	52	.366	24		—
Los Angeles Clippers
1984–85	1984–85[lower-alpha 3]	NBA	Western	11th	Pacific	4th	31	51	.378	31		—
1985–86	1985–86	NBA	Western	10th	Pacific	3rd	32	50	.390	30		—
1986–87	1986–87	NBA	Western	12th	Pacific	6th	12	70	.146	53		—
1987–88	1987–88	NBA	Western	12th	Pacific	6th	17	65	.207	45		—
1988–89	1988–89	NBA	Western	11th	Pacific	7th	21	61	.256	36		—
1989–90	1989–90	NBA	Western	11th	Pacific	6th	30	52	.366	33		—
1990–91	1990–91	NBA	Western	10th	Pacific	6th	31	51	.378	32		—
1991–92	1991–92	NBA	Western	7th	Pacific	5th	45	37	.549	12	Lost First Round (Jazz) 3–2[12]	—
1992–93	1992–93	NBA	Western	7th	Pacific	4th	41	41	.500	21	Lost First Round (Rockets) 3–2[13]	—
1993–94	1993–94	NBA	Western	11th	Pacific	7th	27	55	.329	36		—
1994–95	1994–95	NBA	Western	13th	Pacific	7th	17	65	.207	42		—
1995–96	1995–96	NBA	Western	11th	Pacific	7th	29	53	.354	35		—
1996–97	1996–97	NBA	Western	8th	Pacific	5th	36	46	.439	21	Lost First Round (Jazz) 3–0[14]	—
1997–98	1997–98	NBA	Western	13th	Pacific	7th	17	65	.207	44		—
1998–99[lower-alpha 4]	1998–99	NBA	Western	13th	Pacific	7th	9	41	.180	26		—
1999–00	1999–2000	NBA	Western	14th	Pacific	7th	15	67	.183	52		—
2000–01	2000–01	NBA	Western	12th	Pacific	6th	31	51	.378	25		—
2001–02	2001–02	NBA	Western	9th	Pacific	5th	39	43	.476	22		—
2002–03	2002–03	NBA	Western	13th	Pacific	7th	27	55	.329	32		—
2003–04	2003–04	NBA	Western	14th	Pacific	7th	28	54	.341	28		—
2004–05	2004–05	NBA	Western	10th	Pacific	3rd	37	45	.451	25		Bobby Simmons (MIP)
2005–06	2005–06	NBA	Western	6th	Pacific	2nd	47	35	.573	7	Won First Round (Nuggets) 4–1 Lost Conference Semifinals (Suns) 4–3[16]	Elgin Baylor (EOY) Elton Brand (SPOR)
2006–07	2006–07	NBA	Western	9th	Pacific	4th	40	42	.488	21		—
2007–08	2007–08	NBA	Western	12th	Pacific	5th	23	59	.280	34		—
2008–09	2008–09	NBA	Western	14th	Pacific	4th	19	63	.232	46		—
2009–10	2009–10	NBA	Western	12th	Pacific	3rd	29	53	.354	28		—
2010–11	2010–11	NBA	Western	13th	Pacific	4th	32	50	.390	25		Blake Griffin (ROY)
2011–12[lower-alpha 5]	2011–12	NBA	Western	5th	Pacific	2nd	40	26	.606	1	Won First Round (Grizzlies) 4–3 Lost Conference Semifinals (Spurs) 4–0	—
2012–13	2012–13	NBA	Western	4th	Pacific	1st	56	26	.683	–	Lost First Round (Grizzlies) 4–2	Chris Paul (AMVP)
2013–14	2013–14	NBA	Western	3rd	Pacific	1st	57	25	.695	–	Won First Round (Warriors) 4–3 Lost Conference Semifinals (Thunder) 4–2	Jamal Crawford (SMOY)
2014–15	2014–15	NBA	Western	3rd	Pacific	2nd	56	26	.683	11	Won First Round (Spurs) 4–3 Lost Conference Semifinals (Rockets) 4–3	—
2015–16	2015–16	NBA	Western	4th	Pacific	2nd	53	29	.646	20	Lost First Round (Trail Blazers) 4–2	Jamal Crawford (SMOY)
2016–17	2016–17	NBA	Western	4th	Pacific	2nd	51	31	.622	16	Lost First Round (Jazz) 4–3
2017–18	2017–18	NBA	Western	10th	Pacific	2nd	42	40	.512	16		Lou Williams (SMOY)
2018–19	2018–19	NBA	Western	8th	Pacific	2nd	48	34	.585	9	Lost First Round (Warriors) 4–2	Lou Williams (SMOY)
2019–20	2019–20	NBA	Western	2nd	Pacific	2nd	49	23	.681	3.5	Won First Round (Mavericks) 4–2 Lost Conference Semifinals (Nuggets) 4–3	Montrezl Harrell (SMOY)

All-time records

Note: Statistics are correct as of the end of the 2018–19 season.

Statistic	Wins	Losses	W–L%
Buffalo Braves regular season record (1970–1978)	259	397	.395
San Diego Clippers regular season record (1978–1984)	186	306	.378
Los Angeles Clippers regular season record (1984–present)	1,165	1,657	.413
All-time regular season record (1970–present)	1,610	2,360	.406
Buffalo Braves post-season record (1970–1978)	9	13	.409
San Diego Clippers post-season record (1978–1984)	0	0	–
Los Angeles Clippers post-season record (1984–present)	37	51	.420
All-time post-season record (1970–present)	46	64	.418
All-time regular and post-season record (1970–present)	1,656	2,424	.406

Notes

1. The formula is: ${\displaystyle \mathrm {Games} \ \mathrm {behind} ={\frac {(\mathrm {TeamA's} \ \mathrm {wins} -\mathrm {TeamB's} \ \mathrm {wins} )+(\mathrm {TeamB's} \ \mathrm {losses} -\mathrm {TeamA's} \ \mathrm {losses} )}{\mathrm {2} }}}$
2. The team relocated to San Diego, California.
3. The team relocated to Los Angeles, California.
4. Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999, and all 29 teams played a shortened 50 game regular season schedule.[15]
5. Due to a lockout, the season did not start until December 25, 2011 and all 30 teams played a shortened 66 game regular season schedule.[17]

References

General

• "Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
• "Season Recaps". NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.

Specific

1. "The Official Page of the Buffalo Braves". NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
2. "1972–1976 NBA Drafts". The Association for Professional Basketball Research. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
3. "Los Angeles Clippers Records" (PDF). NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. p. 79 (2 of 21). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 28, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
4. "Bob McAdoo". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
5. Reid, Jason (May 2, 2006). "Series Is a Breakout Hit". Los Angeles Times. latimes.com. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
6. "SIVault". Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. SI.com. Archived from the original on September 8, 2010. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
7. Eric Patten (April 7, 2013). "CLIPPERS WIN FIRST PACIFIC DIVISION TITLE". Los Angeles Clippers official website. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
8. Reid, Jason (February 26, 2006). "Cassell Proves to Be the Real Steal". Los Angeles Times. latimes.com. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
9. "1973–74 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
10. "1974–75 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
11. "1975–76 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
12. "1991–92 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
13. "1992–93 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
14. "1996–97 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
15. Donovan, John (February 4, 1999). "Let the semi-season begin: Expect injuries, intensity and a new champion in '99". CNN Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
16. "2005–06 Los Angeles Clippers". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
17. Beck, Howard (November 28, 2011). "Two Exhibition Games for N.B.A. Teams". The New York Times. Retrieved November 28, 2011.