If you’ve followed the NBA for a minute, you know the Los Angeles Clippers used to be the league's punchline. For decades, they were the "other" team in LA, living in the shadow of the Lakers' gold-plated rafters. But things changed. Honestly, the roster history of this team is a wild mix of forgotten Buffalo Braves legends, San Diego era "Iron Men," and the high-flying stars of the modern Lob City and Intuit Dome era.
When we talk about clippers all time players, it’s not just about who has the coolest highlights on YouTube. It's about the guys who actually stayed, the ones who kept the lights on when nobody was watching, and the stars who finally made the playoffs a yearly expectation instead of a miracle.
The Iron Man and the Forgotten Scoring King
Before the team was in LA, they were the Buffalo Braves. Most people forget that. They had a guy named Randy Smith who was basically the original "Iron Man" of basketball. He played 715 games for the franchise and is still their all-time leading scorer with 12,735 points. Randy wasn't a flash-in-the-pan star either. He was a 7th-round draft pick. Can you imagine that today? A 7th-rounder becoming a franchise's scoring leader. He also holds the record for most steals in a Clippers jersey with 1,072.
Then there’s Bob McAdoo. If we’re talking pure dominance, McAdoo is probably the best player to ever wear the uniform, even if it was technically the Braves uniform. He won the NBA MVP in 1975. Think about that. The Clippers franchise has an MVP in its history books, and he averaged 34.5 points per game that season. He was a scoring machine who could shoot from the outside before big men were allowed to do that.
Why Chris Paul Changed Everything
You can’t have a conversation about clippers all time players without mentioning Chris Paul. Before CP3 arrived in 2011, the Clippers were lucky to win 30 games. He didn't just bring lobs; he brought a culture. He is the franchise leader in assists with 4,023. More importantly, he made the Clippers relevant.
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During his six seasons, the team never missed the playoffs. He was the "Point God" for a reason. He leads the franchise in Player Efficiency Rating ($26.3$) and basically orchestrated the most fun era in team history. Sure, they never got past the second round with him, but he proved that winning was actually possible in a Clippers uniform.
The Lob City Pillars
While Paul was the brain, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan were the muscle.
Blake was a phenomenon. He is second all-time in scoring for the team ($10,863$ points) and third in rebounds ($4,686$). People remember him for jumping over a car in the dunk contest, but by his third or fourth year, he was one of the best passing big men in the league.
DeAndre Jordan is the definition of longevity for this team. He’s played the most games in franchise history ($750$) and grabbed the most rebounds ($7,988$). He also leads in blocks with $1,277$. He was the defensive anchor that allowed the stars to shine, and he did it with a field goal percentage that was consistently near the top of the league because he basically only took dunks.
The Modern Era and the Two-Way Stars
Fast forward to 2019. The Clippers pulled off the heist of the century by landing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George at the same time. While injuries have been the main character of this era, you can't deny the talent. Kawhi has been the most efficient playoff performer the team has ever seen when he's healthy. Even with the missed time, he's climbed into the top ten in franchise scoring.
Paul George, before he left for Philly, was the primary reason the Clippers made their first-ever Western Conference Finals in 2021. He holds the record for most three-pointers made in a Clippers jersey ($820$). It’s a different kind of greatness—one built on high-stakes playoff moments rather than a decade of regular-season accumulation.
The Gritty Cornerstones
We have to give flowers to Elton Brand. In the mid-2000s, he was the only reason the team was competitive. In 2006, he led them to the second round and was an All-NBA Second Team selection. He’s second all-time in rebounds ($4,710$) and third in blocks ($1,039$). He was a 20-and-10 guy every single night.
Then you’ve got the role players who stayed forever. Eric Piatkowski was the "Polish Rifle," second in three-pointers made for years. Corey Maggette was a human wrecking ball who holds the record for most free throws made ($3,122$). These guys aren't Hall of Famers, but they are the fabric of the organization.
What the Numbers Tell Us
When you look at the all-time leaders, you see a franchise that has evolved through several distinct identities.
- Scoring: Randy Smith (12,735) and Blake Griffin (10,863) are the only ones over 10k.
- Rebounding: DeAndre Jordan is in a league of his own with nearly 8,000 boards.
- Longevity: Only four players have played more than 550 games for the team: Jordan, Smith, Piatkowski, and Loy Vaught.
It's a weird history. You have the Buffalo years, the San Diego "World B. Free" years, the "cheap" years of the 90s, and then the modern explosion.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you are looking to dive deeper into the history of clippers all time players, or perhaps start a memorabilia collection, here is what you should focus on:
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- Look beyond LA: To truly understand the franchise, research the Buffalo Braves era. Bob McAdoo's 1975 MVP season is one of the most underrated individual years in NBA history.
- Stat Hunting: Watch how Ivica Zubac is climbing the leaderboards. As of 2026, he has already entered the top five in total rebounds and is quickly moving up the games played list.
- The "Lob City" Impact: Recognize that while the Kawhi/PG era brought the deepest playoff run, the Chris Paul era is what established the statistical foundation for the "Los Angeles" version of the team.
- Legacy Appreciation: Don't ignore guys like Danny Manning or Loy Vaught. They played during the "dark ages," but their individual stats remain in the franchise top ten for a reason.
The Clippers are no longer just the "other" team. They have a brand-new arena, a billionaire owner, and a history that—while complicated—is filled with some of the most talented players to ever pick up a basketball. Whether it’s the scoring of Randy Smith or the defensive dominance of DeAndre Jordan, the legacy of this team is finally starting to get the respect it deserves.