If you close your eyes and think about the Staples Center in 2013, you can almost hear the sound of the PA announcer screaming "Bingo!" while a 6-foot-10 guy jumps over a Kia. It was chaos. It was beautiful. It was the peak of an era that felt like it would never end, yet somehow crashed into a wall just when things got interesting. We’re talking about the los angeles clippers roster 2013—a group of guys who basically turned professional basketball into a high-flying circus act that actually won games.
Most people remember the dunks. Honestly, how could you not? Blake Griffin was basically a human pogo stick with a mean streak, and DeAndre Jordan was the ultimate safety valve at the rim. But if you look closer at that specific 2013-14 season, there was a lot more going on under the hood than just highlights on SportsCenter. It was Doc Rivers' first year in town. It was the year Chris Paul truly became the "Point God" of the West. It was also, unfortunately, the year everything changed because of things that happened way off the hardwood.
👉 See also: Where is football game tonight: Your Saturday night playoff and prime-time guide
The Core That Defined an Era
Let’s get real for a second. The los angeles clippers roster 2013 was built around three specific pillars. You had Chris Paul, the obsessive, mid-range maestro who probably dreamed in pick-and-roll sets. Then you had Blake Griffin, who was evolving from just a "dunker" into a legitimate point-forward. And finally, DeAndre Jordan, the defensive anchor who didn't need to touch the ball to change a game.
CP3 was the heartbeat. In 2013, he averaged about 19 points and nearly 11 assists. He led the league in assists per game that year. It wasn't just the numbers, though; it was the way he manipulated the floor. He’d get into the lane, snake the screen, and either find JJ Redick for a corner three or lob it toward the rafters for DJ.
Then you had Blake. People forget how good 2013 Blake Griffin was. He finished third in MVP voting that season. THIRD. He wasn't just jumping over cars anymore; he was hitting face-up jumpers and handling the ball like a guard. He averaged 24 points and 9.5 rebounds. It felt like he was becoming the best power forward in the world right before our eyes.
The Supporting Cast Nobody Talks About Enough
Everyone remembers the big three, but that 2013 squad had some serious depth. JJ Redick had just arrived from Milwaukee (via a sign-and-trade), and he changed everything. His constant movement off the ball gave the Clippers' offense the spacing it desperately needed. Before Redick, teams could just pack the paint. With him, you couldn't leave the perimeter for a second.
Then there was Jamal Crawford. The man was a walking bucket. He won Sixth Man of the Year that season, his second time snagging the award. He’d come off the bench, hit three straight contested jumpers, and basically demoralize the other team’s second unit.
Don't forget Matt Barnes. Every team needs a "villain," and Barnes was the guy who would get in your face, take the hard foul, and knock down the occasional corner three. He provided the grit that a team full of superstars often lacks. Jared Dudley was there too, though he struggled with some injuries that year that limited his impact. Darren Collison played a huge role as the backup PG, often filling in when CP3 dealt with his usual nagging injuries.
The Lob City Identity
The term "Lob City" wasn't just a marketing slogan. It was a tactical advantage. When you have two guys as athletic as Griffin and Jordan, the threat of the lob forces the opposing center to stay home. They can't help on Chris Paul’s drives. If they do? Boom. Lob. Two points.
👉 See also: Blackhawks Results: Why the Flames Game Was a Wake-Up Call
During that 2013-14 campaign, the Clippers led the league in offensive rating. They were scoring 109.4 points per 100 possessions. In an era before the Golden State Warriors completely broke the NBA with three-pointers, this was elite production. They played fast. They played loud.
But there was a downside.
Critics often pointed out that the Clippers were "soft" or that they complained to the refs too much. Honestly, they kinda did. Every missed call resulted in five guys with their hands in the air. It created a weird dynamic where they were the most exciting team in the league but also one of the most polarizing. You either loved the flair or you hated the "entitlement."
The Donald Sterling Shadow
You can't talk about the los angeles clippers roster 2013 without talking about the elephant in the room. April 2014. Right in the middle of a heated first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors, the TMZ tapes dropped. The owner, Donald Sterling, was caught on record making horrific racist remarks.
The locker room was devastated. Imagine being Chris Paul or Doc Rivers and having to represent an organization owned by that guy. The players famously staged a silent protest by wearing their warm-up shirts inside out to hide the logo.
👉 See also: Richmond Raceway: Why 0.75 Miles is the Magic Number for NASCAR
It was a heavy, suffocating atmosphere. Despite the chaos, they managed to beat the Warriors in seven games. It was one of the grittiest performances in franchise history. But by the time they got to the second round against Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder, the emotional tank was empty.
That Heartbreaking Series Against OKC
The 2013-14 playoffs ended in the most "Clippers" way possible. Game 5 against the Thunder. The Clippers had a seven-point lead with about 50 seconds left. It was over. Except it wasn't.
A series of controversial calls, a Chris Paul turnover, and a foul on a three-pointer led to one of the most improbable collapses in playoff history. They lost the game, lost the momentum, and eventually lost the series in six games.
Looking back, that was the moment. That was the year they should have made the Western Conference Finals. The roster was healthy, the chemistry was there, and the path was open. They just couldn't clear the hurdle.
Why the 2013 Roster Matters Now
So, why are we still talking about a team that didn't even make the Finals? Because the los angeles clippers roster 2013 changed the perception of the franchise forever.
Before this era, the Clippers were the laughingstock of professional sports. They were the team that draft picks dreaded going to. This roster made them "cool." They filled the seats. They sold jerseys. They forced the Lakers to share the spotlight in their own building.
- Cultural Impact: They influenced how teams look for "vertical spacing." Every GM wanted their own version of the CP3-to-DeAndre lob.
- The Blueprint: They showed that you could build a contender through a mix of high-level trades (CP3), elite drafting (Griffin/Jordan), and veteran savvy (Redick/Crawford).
- The Lesson: It also serves as a cautionary tale about how fragile a championship window is. One bad owner, one bad turnover, and the whole thing evaporates.
Detailed Breakdown of the 2013-2014 Roster Stats
If you're a numbers person, the production of this group was actually staggering.
Chris Paul played 62 games, averaging 19.1 PPG and 10.7 APG. He was the undisputed general.
Blake Griffin was a beast, playing 80 games and putting up 24.1 PPG.
JJ Redick missed some time but still contributed 15.2 PPG on 39.5% shooting from deep.
DeAndre Jordan started all 82 games, averaging 13.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. He was the iron man of the group.
The bench was anchored by Jamal Crawford (18.6 PPG) and Darren Collison (11.4 PPG). Even guys like Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Danny Granger, who joined later in the season, provided some veteran minutes during that playoff push.
Actionable Insights for NBA Historians and Fans
If you want to truly understand the impact of the los angeles clippers roster 2013, you should do more than just watch YouTube highlights.
- Watch Game 7 against the Warriors (2014): It is a masterclass in playing through external pressure. The atmosphere in that building was unlike anything else.
- Analyze the Pick-and-Roll Geometry: Study how Doc Rivers used JJ Redick as a "decoy" to open up the lane for Blake Griffin. It’s a strategy that many modern NBA teams still use today.
- Compare to the Current Era: Look at the current Clippers roster. You can see the DNA of the 2013 team in the way they still prioritize high-level perimeter play and defensive versatility, even if the "Lob City" dunks are a thing of the past.
The 2013 Clippers didn't get the ring, but they got the respect. They turned a "cursed" franchise into a perennial contender. For a few years there, Los Angeles wasn't just a Lakers town. It was a city that learned to fly.
To dig deeper into this era, look for long-form retrospectives on the "Lob City" years or check out the documentary footage regarding the Sterling sale. Understanding the intersection of the on-court brilliance and the off-court turmoil is the only way to get the full picture of what this specific roster went through. It was a wild ride that ended too soon, but man, it was fun while it lasted.