Finally, It’s Hip to be a Clip – Lee Jenkins

For the first time since 1979, the Lakers’ little brothers (the Clippers) are finally relevant in Los Angeles, thanks to current commissioner David Stern.  Since the controversial acquisition of Chris Paul, the Clippers are the hot ticket in town with local television ratings up 150% and prices of tickets on the secondary market up 50% to 75%, all because players and fans now have a reason to believe in their team.  Sports Illustrated senior writer Lee Jenkins sat down to discuss the genesis of the story, what he learned, and if its truly,  “Finally Hip to be a Clip.” 

Inside SI: What interested you about this story?

Lee Jenkins: Whenever you have a long-suffering team experiencing success for the first time, or at least the promise of success, you have the backdrop for an entertaining story. The Clippers have finished with losing records in 29 of the last 32 seasons. They have wasted more draft picks, suffered more torn ACLs and made more curious trades than any team in pro sports. They make the Cubs look lucky. But the Clippers essentially remade themselves last month into one of the most dynamic teams in the NBA, signing Caron Butler, picking up Chauncey Billups, and most important, trading for All Star point guard Chris Paul. I wanted to retrace those steps and show how the Clippers became a credible landing spot for a superstar. With Paul throwing ally oops to Blake Griffin, the Clippers have earned their nickname “Lob City,” but they are producing much more than highlights. The Clippers could realistically contend in the Western Conference, this year and for years to come.

What did you learn about the Clippers that you may not have necessarily known prior to writing the story?

I grew up in San Diego, and when I was very young, the Clippers were competitive. Then something happened and they weren’t anymore, but I couldn’t remember exactly what it was. I learned their downfall began shortly after they signed Bill Walton – a San Diego native – as a free agent from Portland. In those days, Commissioner Larry O’Brien could award free-agent compensation where he saw fit, which is unthinkable now. It’s like the Heat signing LeBron James and having to send Dwyane Wade to Cleveland. O’Brien stripped three members of the Clippers core, and five years later, the team moved to Los Angeles.  Last month, another commissioner made another strange decision, only this one actually benefitted the Clippers. David Stern rejected a trade by the Lakers for Paul and approved the deal that sent him to the Clippers.

The Clippers have certainly had their share of difficulties over the years. Do you sense a cultural change within the organization?

For a franchise that has lost as much as the Clippers, it’s strange that so many members of the front office are the same. The owner has been there 30 years. The team president has been there 27 years. Several vice presidents have been there about as long. But three events really changed the culture and paved the way for Paul. 1) The Clippers built a $50 million practice facility that is probably the fanciest in the league and signaled to players that they were serious. 2) They won the 2009 draft lottery and selected Griffin with the No. 1 pick. 3) They hired Neil Olshey as general manager, even though Olshey comes from an unorthodox background. Olshey was a soap opera actor who made himself a workout guru for NBA players. He has a different perspective of the league and has pursued players who really want to be Clippers.

As a West Coast native I am sure you can provide some insight, is LA a divided city right now?

No, Los Angeles is a Lakers city, and it will take generations to reverse. In New York, the Mets would have to overshadow the Yankees for many years to change the dynamic, and the same is true here. But L.A. is a great NBA town, with room for two teams, and both the Lakers and Clippers are selling out virtually every home game. People are talking about the Clippers, even more than the Lakers, because their story is so new and their style so upbeat. The Clippers are a trend with a chance to become much more. The Lakers are still an institution.

That being said, in your opinion, are the Clippers currently the strongest team in L.A.?

They’re very even, and at the end of this compressed season, I think the records will reveal that. There’s a good chance the Clippers and Lakers will meet in a playoff series, and I’d give the Clippers the edge, because the Lakers have no one who can keep up with Paul. The Clippers beat the Lakers in both pre-season games and again in the first regular-season meeting. They are not a perfect team, but given how quickly they were mashed together, they’ve adapted smoothly. Their defense has improved, center DeAndre Jordan has emerged, and they’ve won even when Paul has been injured. Lakers-or-Clippers is the great debate in L.A. right now, and when you review the history of the teams, it’s remarkable that the Clippers are in the conversation.