It has become commonplace in NBA discourse to see the Clippers and their fanbase being relentlessly slandered, but as the franchise has grown in recent years, Clipper Nation has become a global movement. With the perennial playoff collapses, most notably 2015 and 2020, such slander is certainly justified. With that being said, who would want to be a fan of such a team? Well, according to many of those partaking in the slander, the answer is nobody. There is a vocal group who truly believe that any professing Clippers supporter is merely playing the role of antagonist to LeBron and the Lakers. Their argument is that even with the recent surge of regular season success over the last decade, why would anybody choose to the Clippers? The Lakers, their hallway rivals, started off the 2010’s with a championship, underwent a full rebuild, and still got another title before the Clippers could even make their first Western Conference Finals appearance. Strictly from a basketball standpoint, there is seemingly no reason to be a fan of the Los Angeles Clippers. However, for Clipper fans, the decision to adopt this team has always been about more than basketball.
Every Clipper fan has a story on how their fandom came to be; however, not one of these stories can reference a championship run that ignited a life-long passion for the team. Throughout the years, this is the way we have seen fanbases grow. The Miami Heat regained global popularity during the Big-3 era, the Golden State Warriors had fans in every corner of the earth during their dynasty, and if we take a trip back to the 90’s, this reality was ever-present with Michael Jordan and the Bulls. It is no secret, but winning attracts fans. This reality will always be true, so because of it, every Clipper fan must answer the question, “How are you a fan, despite all of the losing?” Why become a fan of the worst franchise in NBA history, when a historically great alternative resides just across the hall? Once again, the answer transcends basketball.
The Underdog Mentality
It wasn’t until just last season that the Clippers became title favorites for the first time in franchise history. Even during the Lob City era, which was the most sustained success the Clippers had ever seen, the team was never once widely regarded as title favorites. Those teams were good, but the Western Conference went through Golden State, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City during those years. Because of this, unless a fan just recently hopped on the Kawhi-PG bandwagon, their fandom was birthed during a time when the Clippers were not only underdogs in the Western Conference, but in their own city as well. For Clipper fans, this is far more appealing than it is repelling. Many of them cite this very reality as a significant driving force of their passion for the team. In a survey conducted on my Clippers Instagram page (@clips.convos), I asked fans to reply with their story on how they became Clipper fans. Over half of the responses cited the team’s “underdog mentality” or “low-key persona” as at least one of the contributing factors that attracted them to the team. It’s a reality that’s rooted in the deepest part of our sports fandom, but it is undeniably enjoyable to root for an underdog.
It feels almost ironic to lead with this “underdog” narrative, because this could not have been any further from the reality we just experienced in the 2019-20 NBA season. Almost every major sports network, analyst, player, and fan had the Clippers as the favorites to win it all. After yet another season that ended in a disappointing 2nd round exit, this is no longer the case. ESPN recently reported that the Clippers have surrendered their place as title favorites to the Lakers for this upcoming season, and rightfully so. With a collapse as significant as the one the Clippers pulled off against Denver, pessimism surrounding the team was certain to follow. For Clipper fans, this is actually embraced. As represented by the data I collected in my survey, the very driving force for the fandom of many Clipper fans, is their attraction to an underdog.
Justin Russo, @FlyByKnite on Twitter, shared a sentiment that many Clipper fans can relate to. When asked why he has stayed a Clipper fan all these years, despite the perennial pain that comes with it, he answered by saying, “There’s no reason to jump ship. Watching them win a title would mean more than any other.” This mindset that after all of the years that produced nothing but disappointment, finally winning a championship would be a feeling like no other, is one that is consistent amongst the fanbase. Justin Wilson, @LAClippersFilm on Twitter, echoed this same sentiment when he stated that “In a weird way, the losing and collapses hurt, but there’s an optimism to it because you know when they break through it’ll mean more.” As shared by two of the most prominent voices on Clippers Twitter, Clipper fans aren’t going anywhere. In fact, they’ve always been here.
Clipper Nation: A Global Movement
In the survey conducted on my Instagram page, there was a portion that specifically encouraged Clipper fans from outside of the United States to share their stories on how they became fans. I was overwhelmed by not only the number of responses I received, which exceeded 200, but the widespread nature of where they were coming from. Fans from Australia, Poland, New Zealand, England, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Bahamas, Canada, Germany, Israel, Honduras, Chile, Brazil, France, Belgium, Columbia, Iraq, the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Finland, Serbia, Italy, Argentina, Taiwan, Bulgaria, and Greece all came forward with unique stories about how they ended up falling in love with the Clippers. Their reasons for choosing the Clippers over any of the alternatives varied, although Lob City was an unsurprisingly popular response. Ralph Lawler and the unappealing nature of Laker fans also received heavy recognition in the free-response survey. While each of these stories varied in nature, they were all consistent in one area: these fans could never root for another team. Something about the combination of excitement and unmet expectations keeps them coming back. These fans know that experiencing this team’s first championship will be a feeling of rewarding satisfaction that is exclusive only to those who stayed loyal during the times when it was most difficult to do so.
Lob City’s Impact
It’s no secret that Lob City inspired a generation of basketball fans, but the significance of this reality is severely underrated. In a survey conducted by Jovan Buha of the Athletic, 24.2% of the Clipper fans who responded to the survey claim to have become fans during the peak of Lob City. The same survey determined that Blake Griffin is still king amongst Clipper Nation. Over 38% of responders named Blake as their favorite player to ever wear a Clippers jersey, which was 22% higher than the next closest player. This data affirms the already commonly held belief that a significant amount of Clipper fans discovered or reignited their passion for the team through Blake Griffin and the Lob City era. With Blake playing such a significant role in my own personal journey as a basketball fan, I decided to collect some stories by inviting my Twitter followers to share their sentiments regarding Blake.
While this provides an explanation for the arrival of many Clipper fans, it does not explain why they’ve stayed. Lob City has come and gone, but the playoff disappointments have not. Jamal Cristopher, formally @in_the_know__, and currently @NBAClippersBeat on Twitter, compares being a Clipper fan to life. When asked why he’s stuck with the Clippers, Jamal answered, “It’s personal for me. I don’t believe in giving up on something you believe in, in any facet of life… I can’t let go of this squad if I tried.” He went on to say that he believes the Clippers are an elite organization from top to bottom, that is on the verge of accomplishing special things. Based upon my own testimony as a fan, combined with the hundreds of stories that I have read from Clipper fans across the globe, Jamal sums it up perfectly. Whether a Clipper fan was born during the dark ages of the sports arena, or the unprecedented excitement that was Lob City, this journey has become personal for them. This is something they want to see through, and when that time comes, they will have earned it.
“The Clippers Have No Fans”
The reasons for supporting a historically unsuccessful team are widespread and diverse. To those outside of the fanbase, most specifically Laker fans, the mere existence of passionate and loyal Clipper fans exceeds their comprehensive ability. Whether their disbelief is rooted in ignorance or insecurity, the presence of Clipper Nation is undeniable. The fanbase has grown exponentially over the years, but it is a fanbase made up of unique individuals with unique stories. As previously mentioned, the Lob City era was the driving force of passion for many young fans across the globe.
Fede Missart grew up in Argentina, where he knew very little about basketball other than the highlights he would come across. During the peak of Lob City, Clipper highlights dominated the internet. When Fede discovered Blake Griffin, he knew he had to watch him as often as possible. Living in Argentina, he didn’t have access to Clipper games until they made the playoffs, so he continued to watch highlights until that time came. It was April of 2015, and the Clippers were set to face the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Fede, a newly born Clippers fan, faced a moral conundrum. The Clippers were his team, but Manu Ginobli was an Argentinian hero. As Fede describes it, the whole country was rooting for Manu and the Spurs. Despite this, Fede’s mind was made up. He had fallen in love with the Clippers, and cheered them on all seven games of their historic series win. Fede describes Chris Paul’s series winner as the moment that transformed him into a diehard Clipper Nation fan for life.
It has been well documented, but Lob City’s global impact on the NBA basketball scene cannot be overstated. Nadav Lewit was an 8-year-old kid in Israel when his dad introduced him to the NBA. Where Nadav grew up, Clipper games would start around 4:00 AM his time. His dad would occasionally wake him up to watch whatever game happened to be on that morning, but there was one game in particular that made Nadav into the diehard fan he is today. It was 2010, which was Blake Griffin’s rookie season, and the Clippers were opening up their season against the Portland Trailblazers. With this being the long awaited debut of Blake Griffin, it was one of just four games the Clippers had on ESPN that season. Nadav’s dad woke him up for the game, and when Blake scored his first career basket on a one-handed alley-oop finish, Nadav was hooked. From then on, it did not matter how early Clipper games begun, Nadav would be up watching. Him and his family have since moved to the Bay Area, and rep Clipper Nation amongst a sea of Golden State fans.
There is something about the excitement of Blake Griffin and Lob City that is indescribable outside of the testimonies from those who were captivated by it. The passion that Lob City ignited in a generation of Clipper fans has been strong enough to keep them coming back despite the perennial disappointments. This is exactly what Santiago Fernández, a Clipper fan in Chile, described when asked why he has stayed a fan of the team throughout all of the letdowns. Living in Latin America, Santiago described basketball as an afterthought, with soccer at the forefront of the country’s sporting interest. He was introduced to basketball during the Miami Heat Big 3 era, and he said he was stunned. As much as he enjoyed those Heat teams, he wanted to support a team that was just as exciting, but not as popular. This is how he discovered the Clippers. Santiago said, “I stumbled across this Griffin guy, dunking on everyone, Lob City, CP3, and DJ. I became a fan, and in my first year following the team, I had to go through the 3-1 collapse against Houston.” Santiago admitted it was hard to stay a fan after that, but he was so attached to the team, that he had no choice but to stick around. That attachment has only grown throughout the years, and while Santiago admits he is still suffering from the yearly unmet expectations, the hope of that first title is what keeps him coming back.
Clipper Nation’s Diversity
The personal testimonies of fans who caught on during Lob City’s reign could fill up a Player’s Tribune sized article on their own; however, part of Clipper Nation’s beauty is not only the diversity amongst its representation, but the diverse stories that have led each individual to this moment in their fandom.
Payman Benz moved from the Bay Area down to Los Angeles in 2006, and as fan of basketball who never latched onto the Warriors, Payman was ready for the basketball scene in his new city. He began attending Clipper games solely because he loved basketball, and the tickets were in his price range. Upon his arrival to LA, Payman got the opportunity to attend a few Laker games as well, but he always felt much more at home when watching the Clippers. While he acknowledges the incredible history that the Lakers have, it was ultimately the underdog persona of the Clippers that got him hooked. The combination of the fanbase’s relatable and friendly nature, along with a roster that complimented those values, Payman became a fan and hasn’t looked back.
The formula that turned Payman into a fan, the underdog mentality and the affordable ticket prices that come with it, is one that has created more Clipper fans than it’s given credit for.
Luis Galvan grew up in the Los Angeles area. It was the year 2004, and he had just turned 14, while his little brother had just turned 12. The two began selling Mexican candy at school in order to make a little bit of money. Neither he nor his brother were into sports at the time, but the first purchase his brother made with his profits, was a Shaun Livingston Clippers jersey. Luis asked him what the significance of this purchase was, and his brother responded by saying, “I bought this jersey because all of my friends like the Lakers, and I don’t want to be like them.” From that moment, the two brothers began watching every game that they could. A certain portion of the Lakers’ fanbase struggles to grasp the idea that not everyone is attracted to historical greatness, because quite frankly, it isn’t always relatable. For Luis and his brother, who sold Mexican candy to make their own money, it was the overlooked and underrepresented Clippers team in 2004 that sparked their fandom for life.
When discussing the diverse group of fans that the Clippers have attracted with their underdog culture, it would be criminal not to mention the 2018-19 team.
Teodora Stefanović had grown up following basketball from her home in Finland, but never latched onto a specific team until one Christmas when her family visited Los Angeles. The family, being fans of basketball, wanted to attend an NBA game for the first time in their lives. The discrepancy of ticket prices between the Clippers and Lakers ultimately led them to a Clippers game. Teodora described the atmosphere, the fans, and the fighting spirit of the team as something she’d never experienced before. She said, “After this trip, I had definitely found my team. I wouldn’t change my decision for anything, and I still can’t believe people choose to be a Laker fan when you can just be a Clipper fan instead.” Teodora is using the inverse of a popular criticism facing Clipper fans, that questions why anyone would choose to root for the historically bad Clippers, when a historically great alternative is right across the hall. For Teodora, historical greatness is not her measure of joy. The underdog, and fighter mentality of a franchise desperate to break through, is what makes her passion for the Clippers unwavering.
The Time Is Coming
Whether a fan fell in love with the underdog culture in the early 2000’s, caught onto the electricity of Lob City in the 2010’s, found their identity in the 2018-19 cinderella story, or just recently hopped on the Kawhi-PG wave, one thing remains consistent: they are all still waiting for their first championship. No matter the different backgrounds that have brought each Clipper fan to this point in their journey, they are all joined together in their unmatched desire to experience a Clippers championship together. When this time finally comes, and like Ralph Lawler promised, it’s certainly coming, there won’t be a fanbase in sports who deserves it more than the Clippers faithful.
