Fansided

Every NBA team’s worst iteration ever

By Rich Kraetsch

BOSTON - NOVEMBER 20: Guard Chris Herren and coach Rick Pitino's expressions on the bench reflected their loss against the 76ers. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - NOVEMBER 20: Guard Chris Herren and coach Rick Pitino's expressions on the bench reflected their loss against the 76ers. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
14 of 31
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – UNDATED: The Los Angeles Clippers mascot Sam Dunk entertains the crowd in this undated photo at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1986 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – UNDATED: The Los Angeles Clippers mascot Sam Dunk entertains the crowd in this undated photo at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1986 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Clippers (1986-87, 12-70, -11 SRS)

Welp. Where to even start with this franchise?

(First off, that mascot. WHAT IS THAT?! Apparently, that thing is named Sam Dunk.)

There have been more downright embarrassing seasons for the Clippers than seasons of success so there are no shortage of contenders for this list.

Think about this: the Clippers have had 12 seasons in their entire franchise’s history with a positive SRS. 12 positive seasons out of 48. Seventy-five percent of Clippers seasons have been below league average. Eric Piatkowski is 11th all-time in Clippers career Win Shares. We’re talking some lean years here, people.

However, no seasons exemplified Clippers failure more than 1986-87 and 1998-99. In particular, 1986-87 when the Clippers won only 12 games against 70 losses. At the time, Los Angeles’s 12-70 finish was the second-worst single-season record in NBA history. Thankfully, it’s now only third (thanks Bobcats!)

Making matters worse this was the 11th straight season in which the Clippers failed to make the postseason, a streak that spanned three different franchise locations: Buffalo, San Diego and Los Angeles.

Los Angeles was dead last in the league in both OffRtg and DefRtg but perhaps most embarrassing, the team finished dead last in the league in attendance. While I don’t blame the fine folks of Los Angeles for avoid the Clip Show like the plague, this team had just moved to the city two years prior. The honeymoon period didn’t last long.

The 1986-87 Clippers featured eight players who averaged double figure points with future NBA head coach Mike Woodson leading the charge at 17.1 points per game. The team played a high-tempo style—fourth-highest pace in the league—but could never get on track. Los Angeles lost the last 14 games of their season.

Adding insult to injury, their counterparts across town (Lakers) defeated Boston in six games to win an NBA Championship, their third championship in eight years.

Home/NBA