Our series on the four jerseys fans of every NBA team continues today. It’s Pacific Division week, and today we’re focusing on the Los Angeles Clippers. Remember, we’re not just going to list off four popular players in team history. We know that when you’re wearing a jersey, you’re going for a “look.” So every day we’re going to tell you the jersey you’ve got to have, the jersey you can’t go wrong with (in case you can’t find the first one), the jersey that will make people say “Oh, that’s awesome,” and the joke jersey that will have everyone laughing.
What can you say about the LA Clippers. Has there been a more tortured fan base? Has any team been more of a punchline? The Clippers have seen seven playoff seasons in their 41 year history. Only four have been delivered in LA. The team has hit the .500 mark or better only seven times. I could go on, but I won’t. Clippers fans know the history all too well. But even with such a forgettable past, there are a number of memorable players from which to choose four must-have jerseys.
Gotta Have:
Danny Manning — Manning may encapsulate everything the Clippers have been. He was their #1 pick in 1988 (which means the Clippers sucked), he blew out his knee (like seemingly every other Clipper who is any good), but he was still good enough to give the team hope. Sadly, the team would never realize its full potential with Manning and he ended up being traded in another attempt to rebuild. You have two numbers to choose from (25 or 5), and either works. Manning is one of the most talented players to put on a Clippers jersey, despite the fact that his career ended up predictably disappointing.
Can’t Go Wrong With:
Blake Griffin — At first, it looked like Blake was going to go down that same path. His entire rookie season (or what should have been his rookie season) was lost due to a fracture in his kneecap. But he returned last year with a vengeance. No one was safe from his monster dunks. Griffin is one of, if not the, most exciting players in the NBA. Time will tell if he can build on his 22.5 point and 12.1 rebound per game averages. Last season was only his first with the Clippers, but the promise and excitement make buying his #32 absolutely worth it.
“Oh, That’s Cool”:
World B. Free — First of all, that’s a damn cool name, and he only had to change his first name to get there. Second of all, his two best seasons were the two he spent in San Diego. And Third, he’s the coolest jersey we could find that said “Clippers” on it. We also considered a Bob McAdoo Buffalo Braves jersey, but we just couldn’t get past the possibility of someone walking around LA with a big #24 and the name “Free” on the back. Some have played for the franchise longer, some have been better, but World B. Free is as cool as it gets.
“Oh, That’s Funny”:
Michael Olowokandi — File this under “if you can’t laugh about it, you’ll cry”. The Kandi man was yet another #1 overall selection, and he epitomizes the sad history of whiffs the team has made with its high draft picks. In his last two seasons in LA, he actually almost averaged a double-double. But he was just terrible around the hoop. He finished his career with a shooting percentage of 43.5, disgustingly low for a center. So grab a #34, head to the bar, and laugh about how bad this guy was as you embrace the failures of the past. Because tomorrow is a brighter day (we hope… for your sake).
There you have it. The four jerseys Clippers fans have got to have. Disagree with us? Let us know who we missed in the comments.
Previous jerseys:
Atlantic Division: Boston, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Toronto
Central Division: Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana, Milwaukee
Southeast Division: Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, Miami, Washington
Pacific Division: Golden State
Tomorrow: The Los Angeles Lakers
Jeff Garcia collaborated on this post
