Los Angeles Clippers Trivia Questions With Answers
Who are the Los Angeles Clippers?
A: The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional
basketball team based
in Los Angeles, California.
Where did the franchise begin?
A: In Western New York as the Buffalo Braves.
They were one of three NBA expansion franchises that began
play in what season?
A: The 1970–71 season.
What were the other two teams?
A: The Portland Trail Blazers and
Cleveland Cavaliers.
Where did the Clippers play their home games?
A: At the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.
After three bad seasons, the Braves' fortunes started to
change under what coach?
A: Jack Ramsay.
The Braves qualified for the playoffs how many times in a
row?
A: Three
In 1978, why did
San Diego welcome the relocation of the
Buffalo Braves franchise?
A: Because the city had lost their Rockets to Houston seven years earlier.
San Diego team officials did not think Braves was a what?
A: Representative nickname for the club.
A contest decided on Clippers because of what?
A: The city was known for the great sailing ships that passed through San Diego
Bay.
In the team's first season in San Diego, it posted a record
of 43–39 under what new head coach?
A: Gene Shue, leaving them two wins shy of the final playoff spot.
It would be the Clippers' last winning season for how long?
A: 13 years.
It was also in that first season in Southern California
that what long-time announcer began his association with the club?
A: Ralph Lawler.
World B. Free, who was acquired in the offseason from the
Philadelphia 76ers, finished second overall in NBA scoring average, with per
game?
A: 28.9.
The 1979–80 season saw the Clippers begin to struggle
despite adding what center?
A: Bill Walton.
Walton missed 68 games due to foot what?
A: Foot injuries.
San Diego finished 35–47 as key players did what?
A: Missed games due to injuries.
Free again finishing second in league scoring, with how
many points per game?
A: 30.2.
Who replaced Shue the following season?
A: Paul Silas.
Free was traded to the Golden State Warriors in exchange
for who?
A: Guard Phil Smith.
The 1981–82 season brought changes to the franchise as Irv
Levin sold the team to whom?
A: Los Angeles-area real estate developer and attorney Donald Sterling for
US$12.5 million.
The Clippers' poor play in the final years in San Diego
resulted in averaging only how many fans a game?
A: 4,500.
In 1984, the Clippers moved north to where?
A: Los Angeles, playing at the Los Angeles Memorial
Sports Arena.
However, the move was not approved by the NBA, which fined
Sterling how much money?
A: $25 million.
He sued the league for $100 million, but dropped the suit
when what happened?
A: The league agreed to decrease the fine to $6 million.
The Clippers finished their first season in Los Angeles
31–51 under what head coach?
A: Jim Lynam.
Ken Norman, the Clippers' scoring leader in 1988–89, was a
key part of the team's nucleus during what period?
A: The late 1980s and early '90s
The Clippers' early days in Los Angeles were marred with
many seasons of what?
A: Hapless performances.
Despite fielding a squad of talented veterans, the
organization suffered what?
A: Systematic injuries to many of its star players.
The phenomenon was dubbed the "what" by some sports
writers?
A: "Clipper Triangle".
Derek Smith suffered a “what”during the 1985–86 season?
A: Knee injury.
The following season what two players suffered serious
injuries?
A: Norm Nixon (knee) and Marques Johnson (spinal cord).
One of the team's low points was its 12–70 finish in 1987
season that was the what?
A: The second-worst single-season record in NBA history at that time.
That same season also saw Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor join
the team as the what?
A: General Manager and Vice President of basketball operations.
Nixon suffered an ailing Achilles tendon in 1987–88, while
what number one draft pick injured his anterior cruciate during the 1988–89
campaign?
A: Rookie Danny Manning.