LA Clippers Announce D-League Team Name: Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario

Apr 12, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers mascot Chuck the Condor waves a flag during a NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Kings 115-95. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers mascot Chuck the Condor waves a flag during a NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Kings 115-95. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The LA Clippers recently revealed their D-League team name: Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario. The team will begin it’s inaugural season this year.

The LA Clippers are joining the ranks of NBA teams with D-League affiliates. ESPN’s Marc Stein reported that Doc Rivers confirmed plans for the team.

As you can see from the tweet, the Clips’ D-League team will make the 26th D-League team. The D-League has become an invaluable resource for teams who look to build their program and find diamonds in the rough. The most notable recent example to rise from the D-League to the NBA is the Miami Heat’s Hassan Whiteside.

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The Clippers can use this new team, which will be named the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario, to build up their young players. 2016-17 rookies Brice Johnson and Diamond Stone both spent time down in the D-League this season. The Clips having a program of their own will allow them to better monitor the progression of their young players and work them into the system.

The name, which will definitely take some getting used to, seems to be due to the Agua Caliente Spa and Casino, which is a big sponsor of the team. The team will play in Ontario, California which is slightly southeast of Los Angeles.

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