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Los Angeles Clippers: Ranking 10 best big men of all-time

By Tom West

Dec 19, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) and forward Blake Griffin (right) warm up before playing against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) and forward Blake Griffin (right) warm up before playing against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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7th place – Loy Vaught (PF)

Clippers per game averages: 28.1 minutes, 11.9 points, 8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.4 blocks.

Clippers totals: 8 seasons (1990-91 to 1997-98), 558 games, 6,614 points, 4,471 rebounds, 607 assists, 468 steals, 211 blocks, 51.1 field goal percentage.

Honors with Clippers: None.

While Benoit Benjamin left the Los Angeles Clippers in a 1991 trade, power forward Loy Vaught started his development after joining the team as the 13th overall pick in the 1990 draft.

Without pressure to ascend to stardom right away, Vaught enjoyed the privelage of playing behind and learning from proven veteran bigs like Danny Manning and Charles Smith. Vaught adopted more of a defensive role because of his standing on the team early on, and in 19.6 minutes per game over his first three seasons, he averaged 7.5 points and 5.9 rebounds. He was rebounding at a terrific rate from the get go, with that number equating to 10.8 rebounds per 36 minutes.

At a slightly undersized 6’9″, Vaught used his athleticism and sheer energy to make up for a lack of imposing size. And as Smith was traded away in 1992, Vaught’s work paid off as his minutes increased and he earned the starting power forward spot in the 1993-94 season.

From that moment on, Vaught expanded the range of his jumper and produced during the increased workload. Over his final five seasons as a starter with the Clippers, he averaged 14.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game, standing out in 1994-95 with a career-high 17.5 points.

Unfortunately, Vaught didn’t end his time in L.A. with the same kind of bang. Playing just 10 games in 1997-98 due to season-ending back surgery, he signed with the Detroit Pistons a year later before spending his last few years as an injury-troubled backup.

Before health betrayed him, though, Vaught climbed the ranks in Clippers history. He currently sits at 4th in games played (558), 7th in points (6,614), 3rd in total rebounds (4,471), and 8th in win shares (34.1).

Next: 6th place - The Buffalo Braves' first All-Star