The Clippers are beginning a new era with the signings of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. This new era has dreams of making a promising run to the NBA Finals. With the addition of the all-stars to the squad, the Clippers now have the players that can get them over the hump. These dreams are backed up by owner Steve Ballmer, who is striving to move the organization in a new direction.
The move began on July 26th, which is when the organization announced its plan to move the team from Los Angeles to Inglewood, California. Ballmer and the rest of the organization have their eyes set on building the Inglewood Basketball and Entertainment Complex. This complex will have an 18,500-seat arena set to open in 2024. The plans include a headquarters for the Clippers, community courts, parks, team facilities, medical facilities, restaurants, and shops. The new complex will give the Clippers a place only they can call home.
“[The Inglewood Complex] is a way for us to define our own identity,” Ballmer said to the Los Angeles Times. “People, I think, will say, we play in the Lakers’ building. We’d like to play in the Clippers’ building. That’s what we’re working on.”
Although the Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers play in the same building, the Lakers are overshadowing the Clippers because of the past success and the lack of on the Clippers end. The Clippers are the better team in the Staples Center right now due to the Lakers not making the playoffs since 2013 and is their longest drought in the Lakers’ history. The Clippers have made the playoffs six times since then. The players and organization wants their success known by moving away from the Lakers and being in their own arena.
The new arena is only the beginning of the new Clippers. Ballmer is not only open to moving arenas, but open to changing the brand of the team. This new brand can include a change in the logo, team colors, and even nickname.
“We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to really step our identity up another level,” Ballmer said to the Los Angeles Times. “I don’t anticipate making a change, but we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and that is the kind of thing you somehow do in consultation with your fans.”
This isn’t the first time the Clippers have made a change with the franchise. The Clippers began as the Braves from Buffalo, New York after being founded in 1970. They later moved to San Diego in 1978 and changed their name to the Clippers because of the sailing ships in the San Diego Bay. In 1984, the Clippers made their move to Los Angeles where they reside today with the same name.
The Clippers are looking to build a successful organization. This success can come from achieving goals, both on and off the court. The franchise plans to move out of the Staples Center and away from their overshadowing neighbors, the LA Lakers. This move will give the Clippers the chance to cast a shadow of their own on the rest of the NBA.
