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LA Clippers: Deciding who belongs on the All-Time First Team

By Seth Kimbrell

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 16: The LA Clippers Hoop Troop celebrates after the game against the Orlando Magic on January 16, 2020 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 16: The LA Clippers Hoop Troop celebrates after the game against the Orlando Magic on January 16, 2020 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Original Caption) Buffalo’s Bob McAdoo, (11) goes over Cavalier’s Lenny Wilkens (19 and bending over) and John Johnson (32) to score a basket during half play here on November 3rd. The Cavaliers won their third straight game, dumping the Braves 124-97.
(Original Caption) Buffalo’s Bob McAdoo, (11) goes over Cavalier’s Lenny Wilkens (19 and bending over) and John Johnson (32) to score a basket during half play here on November 3rd. The Cavaliers won their third straight game, dumping the Braves 124-97. /

Center

Bob McAdoo

Mac takes the center spot here on the First Team, and it’s not particularly close.

McAdoo played his first 4 and a half seasons with the Buffalo Braves and put up staggering numbers from the start. His rookie year he averaged 18 points and 9 rebounds (blocks weren’t counted yet). The next three years?

  • 30.6/15.1/3.3 blocks in ’73-’74.
  • 34.5/14.1/2.1 blocks in ’74-’75.
  • 31.1/12.4/2.1 blocks in ’75-’76.

That’s a ridiculous three year run. All three of those years the Clippers would reach the conference semis, losing to the Celtics twice and the Bullets once.

That ’74-’75 season would result in McAdoo winning the league MVP, still the only Clipper to ever win the award.

A little way into the ’76-’77 season, the Braves would trade McAdoo to the New York Knicks, essentially just getting cash in return. McAdoo would, unfortunately, find his way onto the Showtime Lakers in the 1980s, playing a key role off the bench and winning two titles.

No hard feelings here, though. It’s not Mac’s fault that the team valued cash over the franchise center. As the only Clipper to ever win league MVP, it’s a no brainer to put him on the First Team.

Honorable mention here to DeAndre Jordan. He was an iron man for the Lob City Clippers and gave us some incredibly memorable moments (here’s looking at you, Brandon Knight), as well as being a monster on the boards. It’s just hard to compete with somebody like Bob McAdoo.

Next. Five greatest "What-ifs" in Clippers history. dark

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