LA Clippers: The best point guards in franchise history

LA Clippers best point guards in franchise history: 4) Norm Nixon

Norm Nixon played three productive seasons with the Clippers from 1983-86 before missing both the 1986-87 and 1987-89 season to injury. He returned to play one final season in 1988-89 but was a shell of his former self.

In his four total seasons with the Clippers, Nixon averaged 14.6 points, 9.0 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. He was named an All-Star for the second time in his career in the 1984-85 season.

Before joining the Clippers, Nixon spent the first six seasons of his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won two NBA titles, was a member of the All-Rookie team in 1977-78, and was named an All-Star in the 1981-82 season. He lead the Lakers in scoring for their championship playoff run in 1982.

Nixon was traded to the Clippers before the 1983-84 season in exchange for the draft rights to Byron Scott. The move was made by the Lakers in part to free Magic Johnson from having to share the ball with Nixon. In his first season with the Clippers, Nixon would lead the NBA in total assists and be named to his second, and final All Star appearance of his career.

His career was derailed due to injuries that caused him to miss back-to-back seasons in 1986-87 and 1987-88. The first was an injury to his knee sustained when he stepped into a hole playing in a softball game in New York’s Central park. The second missed season was due to a ruptured right Achilles tendon that happened in a pre-season practice.