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5 Greatest What-Ifs in LA Clippers History

By Seth Kimbrell

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19: A view of the court at Staples Center during the game between the LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets on December 19, 2019 at STAPLES Center 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19: A view of the court at Staples Center during the game between the LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets on December 19, 2019 at STAPLES Center 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LA Clippers, Baron Davis, Kobe Bryant
LA Clippers Baron Davis and Kobe Bryant (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Almost getting Kobe Bryant

Did you know that the Clippers were just a Donald Sterling away from getting Kobe Bryant not once, but twice?

The story that more people are familiar with happened in 2004. Embroiled in his notorious feud with Shaq, Kobe was a free agent in the summer before the 04-05 season.

Having been described (by Jerry West, no less) as “mad at everyone, the Lakers, the owner, everyone else,” the soon-to-be 26 year old Kobe Bryant reached a verbal agreement on a contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Now, enter the Logo. By Jerry West’s own words, when he heard that Kobe had verbally committed to the Clippers, he took him aside and had a chat about team ownership.

"“Kobe you can’t go play with the Clippers. You can’t play for that owner, period.”"

The rest, as they say, is history. Kobe decided not to join the Clippers, the Lakers traded Shaq to the Heat, and Kobe would win 2 more rings while the Clippers would wait almost another decade before becoming true contenders.

But wait, there’s more.

Flashback even further. It’s the Spring of 1996, and the Clippers are sitting on the 7th pick in the draft. They are hosting a young 17-year-old guard for a pre-draft workout; none other than Kobe Bryant.

Clippers’ then-coach Bill Fitch called Kobe’s workout one of the best he’s ever seen and claims he still holds the record all-time for points scored in the Mikan drill.

Bryant’s workout was so good, it had Clippers officials staring at each other in disbelief, using quotes like “you don’t often see something like that.”

After the workout, Fitch talked to Kobe and told him what an incredible talent he was. He also told him that, given the fact that Donald Sterling owned the Clippers and the state of the team, he was doing him a favor by not drafting him.

"“He benefited from us not taking him and money-wise he probably got more getting drafted where he did than he would have gotten out of Donald Sterling. I didn’t want him to have to go through all the things we were going through there.”"

So there you go. Not once, but twice, Donald Sterling is the reason the Clippers did not have Kobe Bryant.

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