Founded in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves, the franchise moved through San Diego under Donald Sterling's chaotic ownership before landing in Los Angeles in 1984, and it has played at Intuit Dome since the 2024-25 season. The current roster turns on Brandon Ingram, acquired September 14 for Kawhi Leonard, while John Gibson and Trent Redden run the organization on interim titles.
Ownership chaos built this franchise's survival instinct.
Sterling bought the team for $12.5 million in 1981, drew NBA fines over his roster dealings and defied the league to move the club to Los Angeles in 1984, and the Clippers absorbed a 12–70 finish in 1987 before any real contention arrived. That same pattern of disruption from the top continues: Steve Ballmer is serving a one-year suspension tied to the Aspiration penalties, leaving Gibson and Redden to run basketball and business operations on an interim basis since late September.
The franchise keeps rebuilding itself through outside trades.
The Lob City era turned the roster over around Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul, six straight playoff trips from 2012 to 2017 and the only two division titles in franchise history, in 2013 and 2014. The latest swap sent Leonard to Toronto on September 14 for Ingram, Gradey Dick and five draft picks, the newest version of a roster that has rarely stood still.
A Finals trip remains the one box the Clippers have never checked.
Even the 2021 run to a first conference finals appearance did not clear the one bar the Clippers have never reached, leaving them the oldest North American pro franchise without a Finals trip. Ingram now carries part of that weight while recovering from an Achilles injury described as a partial tear, targeted to return November 1, as the roster waits on its regular-season opener October 21 against the Kings.
The Lakers rivalry still measures how far this era has come.
Division titles in 2013 and a 142-94 blowout in 2014 remain the clearest proof the Clippers can be the better team in their own city, even while sharing arenas and markets with the Lakers since 1984. The next measuring stick lands October 23 at the Lakers, with Darius Garland's $42.2 million and Ingram's $40.0 million now the two largest salaries on a $193.7 million payroll built for that kind of test.
Have the Clippers ever reached the NBA Finals?
No. Even the 2021 trip to a first conference finals fell short, leaving the Clippers the oldest North American pro franchise never to play for a championship.
Why did the Clippers trade Kawhi Leonard this offseason?
The move followed the league's ruling on the Clippers' Aspiration dealings; on September 14 Leonard went to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and five draft picks.
