Despite having 40+ years of history to draw on, Blake Griffin could make this squad next year if he has a good season and somehow makes an All-Star team, or, better yet, an All-NBA team. That's really all it takes to be one of the best Clippers ever.
1. Bob McAdoo (133.2 rating) - #11, Center-Forward
Resume: 1973-1977; 334 Games, 28.2 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 50.9 Win Shares, 1.490 MVP Award Shares, 1975 MVP, 1 All-NBA 1st Team, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team, 4 All-Star Selections, 1973 Rookie of the Year
I can never decide if McAdoo is underrated or overrated. I mean, he's in the Hall of Fame, he won an MVP and Rookie of the Year, and he won two championships (obviously not with the Clippers/Braves, they were with the Lakers in '82 and '85); however, nobody outside of hardcore NBA fans know who he is. (Also, note to the Clippers... Retire the man's jersey already. He's clearly been your best player ever. I know all his years were with the Buffalo Braves, but just do it. He at least deserves that much, just so anyone who sees a Clippers game can ask "who's Bob McAdoo?")
2. Elton Brand (89.3) - #42, Forward
Resume: 2002-2008; 459 Games, 20.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 68.3 Win Shares, 0.041 MVP Award Shares, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team, 2 All-Star Selections
I'm still sort of surprised he left the team. I don't know why. I would've bolted in a second. I should be surprised he stayed as long as he did.
3. Randy Smith (70.0) - #9, Guard-Forward
Resume: 1972-1979, 1983; 715 Games, 17.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.9 APG, 50.0 Win Shares, 0.001 MVP Award Shares, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team, 2 All-Star Selections, 1978 All-Star Game MVP
Okay, look, if you're not going to retire McAdoo's number, can you at least retire Randy Smith's? I know most of the years were in Buffalo, but he had two in San Diego, when they were called the Clippers. C'mon already!
4. Bob Kauffman (40.8) - #44, Forward-Center
Resume: 1971-1974; 306 Games, 15.8 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 3.9 APG, 25.8 Win Shares, 3 All-Star Selections
Another Buffalo Brave who doesn't get any recognition because the Clippers seem to be ignoring all the Buffalo history. (This better not be what's going to happen to the Sonics.)
5. Corey Maggette (33.9) - #50, Forward
Resume: 2001-2008; 512 Games, 17.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 45.8 Win Shares, 1 All-Star Selection
Hmmm, Corey Maggette... Interesting. That's really all I have to say.
6. World B. Free (33.7) - #24, Guard
Resume: 1979-1980; 146 Games, 29.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.3 APG, 18.1 Win Shares, 0.023 MVP Award Shares, 1 All-NBA 2nd Team, 1 All-Star Selection
Only two years with the team, but they were good years. Great stats, racked up some awards, should get bonus points for the name. (I actually don't know if he had changed it from Lloyd at this point, but for me, he was retroactively born named "World.")
7. Danny Manning (30.8) - #25/#5, Forward-Center
Resume: 1989-1994; 373 Games, 19.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.0 APG, 31.0 Win Shares, 0.001 MVP Award Shares, 2 All-Star Selections
Like a lot of Clippers, Manning never quite lived up to expectations. He was probably the best of that class of guys, but still, could've been better.
8. Loy Vaught (17.1) - #35, Forward
Resume: 1991-1998; 558 Games, 11.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.1 APG, 31.0 Win Shares
Hmmm, Loy Vaught... All right. Sure, why not?
9. Chris Kaman (15.1) - #35, Center
Resume: 2004-2010; 461 Games, 11.7 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.3 APG, 17.6 Win Shares, 1 All-Star Selection
Makes the list largely due to his whining that Pau Gasol made the All-Star team in 2010 instead of him when Gasol was injured for a few games. So, don't let David Stern convince you that whining won't get you anywhere in the NBA.
10. Swen Nater (14.5) - #31, Center
Resume: 1978-1983; 348 Games, 13.5 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 28.9 Win Shares
His best years were probably in the ABA. And then in Buffalo. And then in San Diego. Which is probably why the Clippers won't ever talk about him.
11. Eric Piatkowski (13.8) - #52, Guard-Forward
Resume: 1995-2003; 616 Games, 8.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 27.6 Win Shares
Ah, the only player from my alma mater (University of Nebraska) to make any team's roster. This might be why I love college football more than the NFL, but the NBA much much more than college hoops.
12. Charles Smith (12.6) - #54, Forward-Center
Resume: 1989-1992; 272 Games, 18.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 25.2 Win Shares
I don't really know anything about Charles Smith. Generic name for a generic player. I'm going to stick with that.
Just missed the cut:
13. Jim McMillian (11.4)
14. Ken Norman (10.8)
15. Norm Nixon (10.5)
16. Benoit Benjamin (9.9)
17. Michael Cage (9.4)
Outlook: You know, this could be a pretty good team. Not great. But there's some solid players here.
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