The Los Angeles Clippers began their journey as the Buffalo Braves in 1970, an expansion team led by Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo, which reached the NBA playoffs three times. Following a relocation to San Diego in 1978 and then a controversial move to Los Angeles in 1984 by owner Donald Sterling, the franchise became known as a perennial loser, enduring decades of struggle with only minimal playoff success.

However, the 2010s marked a significant turning point as the "Lob City" era, featuring stars like Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and Chris Paul, transformed the Clippers into consistent contenders, securing multiple division titles and reaching their first Conference Finals in 2021. Starting with the 2024–25 season, the team will play their home games at the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood. Despite their improved performance, the Clippers still hold the unique and unenviable distinction of being the oldest professional sports franchise in North America never to have played in a championship game.