New Logo, New Life
Once upon a time, the LA Clippers were the Buffalo Braves, based out of the cold reaches of Buffalo in upstate New York. In 1978, the team moved to San Diego and became the Clippers before a move to Los Angeles in 1984.
Los Angeles Clippers Alternate Logo 2016 - Present
Throughout the decades, the Clippers have transformed their branding and franchise. In 2015, the latest overhaul came when the team adopted a new logo. This new symbol placed the monogram LA inside a larger letter ‘C’ (for Clippers), all of which is neatly contained in a stylized basketball.
These updates came after two of the Clippers’ highest-performing years in the Western Conference, Pacific Division, after the team took the division titles in 2013 and 2014. The same year the logo was updated, the Clippers made it to the playoffs only to be defeated by the San Antonio Spurs.
After two more disappointing seasons and the loss of a few crucial players such as Blake Griffin and Danilo Gallinari, the Clippers slipped back into obscurity in their Conference. Sandwiched between powerhouse teams like the LA Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, the Clippers have waited for their chance to make it to an NBA Championship since they settled in LA in 1984.
A Shot at The NBA Championship
Los Angeles Clippers Alternate Logo 2016 - Present
In 2019, the LA Clippers took a massive stride when they drafted all-star duo Ken George and Kawhi Leonard. As the 2019-20 season comes to a head, with playoffs set to begin April 18 and finals taking place in June 2020, both George and Leonard are fighting to keep the Clippers relevant in the Western Conference.
The Clippers are currently ranked third in the Western Conference with 37 wins, slotted behind the LA Lakers and the Denver Nuggets. The Clippers will no doubt rely on small forward Kawhi Leonard to bolster the team’s NBA Championship winner betting odds, though his recent nab of the NBA All-Star Game MVP award indicates he’s up for the challenge.
Aside from the obvious advantage of defensive and precise players like George and Leonard, the Clippers also have a surprising advantage: doubt. Many pundits have the LA Lakers or the Milwaukee Bucks slated to win the 2020 NBA Championship. The Clippers are still viewed as underdogs, fighting beside other underdogs like the Bucks, who haven’t won a championship since 1971.
But, so far, the Clippers have been able to focus, staying under the radar because of their rocky history in the league. However, both leading players prefer it this way. In interviews the pair have been adamant that there is still a lot of work yet to go. Kawhi himself has stated that losses and arguments are necessary for the team to continue growing—and it shows. While mainstream media may continue to undermine the Clippers, the team’s stats certainly don’t.
See the Los Angeles logo history and team history.