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10 Best Los Angeles Clippers Players In Franchise History

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10 Best Los Angeles Clippers Players In Franchise History

Chris Paul — The Clippers have had a long history, but they have been one of the worst franchises in all of professional sports. They've been a laughing stock at times, but they are now a franchise on the rebound. They feature a potent offense and have won the Pacific Division of the Western Conference the last two years. They are one of the reasons the West is so stacked, and we are going to take a look at the best players this franchise has ever had.

The Clippers have had a long history, but they have been one of the worst franchises in all of professional sports. They've been a laughing stock at times, but they are now a franchise on the rebound. They feature a potent offense and have won the Pacific Division of the Western Conference the last two years. They are one of the reasons the West is so stacked, and we are going to take a look at the best players this franchise has ever had.

10. Ron Harper

10. Ron Harper

Ron Harper had a 14-year NBA career, and he had most of his best seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. Over the course of his five years with the Clippers, spanning from 1989 to 1994, the 6-foot-6 guard averaged 19.3 points per game. He added an additional 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, shooting 43.6 percent from the floor. Harper went on to win five NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

9. Elmore Smith

9. Elmore Smith

Elmore Smith only played the first two years of his career with the Clippers franchise in 1971-72 and 1972-73, back when they were the Buffalo Braves, but they were the best two years of Smith's career. The center averaged 17.8 points and 13.8 assists per game during his brief stay, and he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his rookie year in 1972. He led the NBA in blocks with 4.9 per game in 1974 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

8. Danny Manning

8. Danny Manning

Danny Manning was the first overall draft pick in the 1988 NBA Draft by the Clippers. The power forward played the first six seasons of his career with Los Angeles, and they were the best of his career. He averaged 19.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while shooting an excellent 51.8 percent from the field. He was twice an All-Star with the Clippers, and was named Sixth Man of the Year in 1998 with the Phoenix Suns.

7. World B. Free

7. World B. Free

World B. Free was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1975 NBA Draft and spent the first three years of his career there, but the best years by far of his NBA career were spent with the Clippers franchise when they were based in San Diego. In his two years with the Clippers, the guard scored 29.4 points per game, adding 5.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game. He shot 47.7 percent with the Clippers, and was named an All-Star in 1980.

6. Terry Cummings

6. Terry Cummings

Terry Cummings was the second overall draft pick in 1982, selected by the then-San Diego Clippers. He had a splendid rookie season, averaging 23.7 points per game along with 10.6 rebounds per game. He won the 1983 Rookie of the Year award, and was named to the All-Rookie Team. He only played two seasons for the Clippers before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. In spite of battling injuries most of his career, he played in the NBA until 2000.

5. Adrian Dantley

5. Adrian Dantley

Adrian Dantley only played his 1976-77 rookie season with the Clippers (then the Buffalo Braves) winning the 1977 Rookie of the Year award, but his membership on this list is based upon what he did after he departed. Over the course of his 14 year career, he was a six-time All-Star, a two-time scoring champion, and had his jersey retired by the Utah Jazz. He averaged 24.3 points per game and 5.7 rebounds in his career.

4. Elton Brand

4. Elton Brand

Elton Brand was the No. 1 overall draft pick of the Chicago Bulls in 1999 and was named co-Rookie of the Year with Steve Francis in 2000. He played the peak seven seasons of his career with the Clippers though, spanning from 2001 through 2008. Over the course of his Clipper career, he averaged 20.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He was a two-time All-Star with the Clippers, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2006.

3. Blake Griffin

3. Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin has been a monster ever since being selected first overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Clippers. In his rookie season, he averaged 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds on 50.6 percent shooting, and was named by SI one of the 15 Greatest Rookies of All Time. In his rookie year, he was selected as an All-Star, won the Slam Dunk Contest and was named Rookie of the Year. Griffin has never missed an All-Star game in his five years in the NBA.

2. Bob McAdoo

2. Bob McAdoo

Bob McAdoo had a great five-year stint with the Buffalo Braves to start his NBA career, with a three-year stretch from 1973 through 1976. Over that span, he won the 1973 Rookie of the Year, and averaged 32.1 points and 13.8 rebounds, shooting 51.4 percent from the floor, and won the 1975 NBA MVP. McAdoo went on to win two NBA championships with the Lakers, and was a five-time All-Star and three-time scoring champion, all with the Clippers.

1. Chris Paul

1. Chris Paul

Chris Paul has been considered one of the elite point guards in the NBA since the start of his career, and has been the heart and soul of the Clippers since coming to LA in 2011. He has led the NBA in assists four times, has led the league in steals six time, is an eight-time All-Star and has been named to five All-Defensive First Teams. Paul has averaged 18.7 points, 9.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game in his career.

Duncan Smith is an NBA writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @d_smith77, or “Like” him on Facebook.

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Duncan Smith is a writer for RantSports.

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