Hoops Habit
Fansided

Los Angeles Clippers: 25 Best Players To Play For The Clippers

By Phil Watson

Apr 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the Los Angeles Clippers logo at midcourt during game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples center. The Clippers defeated the Trail Blazers 102-81 to take a 2-0 lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the Los Angeles Clippers logo at midcourt during game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples center. The Clippers defeated the Trail Blazers 102-81 to take a 2-0 lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 26
Next
Basketball: Los Angeles Clippers Marques Johnson (8) in action vs Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles, CA 11/24/1984 CREDIT: Peter Read Miller (Photo by Peter Read Miller /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X30807 TK4 )
Basketball: Los Angeles Clippers Marques Johnson (8) in action vs Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles, CA 11/24/1984 CREDIT: Peter Read Miller (Photo by Peter Read Miller /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X30807 TK4 ) /

player. 77. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Trade, Milwaukee Bucks, Sept. 29, 1984.. SF-SG. 1984-87. Marques Johnson. 23

The Los Angeles Clippers brought a hometown star back to L.A. in a September 1984 trade, acquiring four-time All-Star Marques Johnson along with Junior Bridgeman, Harvey Catchings and cash from the Milwaukee Bucks for Terry Cummings, Ricky Pierce and Craig Hodges.

Johnson had a successful return initially, earning an All-Star berth in 1986.

LAC_23_JOHNSON
LAC_23_JOHNSON /

But a serious neck injury in November 1986 effectively ended his career, with the Clippers refusing to pay the remainder of his contract while claiming permanent disability and Johnson quietly becoming a free agent in the summer of 1987.

In three seasons in Los Angeles, Johnson averaged 18.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 34.1 minutes per game, shooting .480/.118/.746.

Johnson was an All-American at UCLA as a senior, averaging 21.4 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, and was a sophomore starter on John Wooden’s last title team with the Bruins.

He was taken third overall by the Bucks in the 1977 NBA Draft and was a four-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection in Milwaukee, finishing third in the NBA in scoring in 1978-79.

He returned to the NBA in October 1989, signing with the Golden State Warriors but was waived in November of that year and retired.

Next: Kenny Helped End Playoff Drought

Home/LA Clippers