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
7 of 26
Next
BOSTON - 1980: Swen Nater #31 of the San Diego Clippers calls for the ball while defended by Rick Robey #53 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1980 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1980 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON – 1980: Swen Nater #31 of the San Diego Clippers calls for the ball while defended by Rick Robey #53 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1980 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 1980 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /

77. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Trade, Milwaukee Bucks, June 7, 1977.. C. 1977-83. Swen Nater. 20. player

The Buffalo Braves picked up a former ABA player to man the middle in June 1977 when they acquired Swen Nater and a first-round pick in 1977 from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for a 1977 first-round selection.

Nater was a terrific contributer, leading the NBA in rebounding in 1979-80, finishing second in 1980-81 and fifth in 1977-78. He was also fifth in field-goal percentage in 1978-79.

Eddie Jordan
Eddie Jordan /

and second-round picks in 1986 and 1987.

In six seasons in Buffalo and San Diego, Nater averaged 13.5 points, 12 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 31.8 minutes per game, shooting .542/1-for-3/.766.

He demonstrated that a solid pro prospect doesn’t need to be a star–or even a starter–at the collegiate level. Nater averaged just 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game as a senior at UCLA, where he was a JUCO transfer.

Backing up Bill Walton just didn’t leave a lot of playing time. The Bucks took Nater with the 16th overall pick in the 1973 NBA Draft, but the big man opted to sign with the ABA’s Virginia Squires.

He was traded in November 1973 to the San Antonio Spurs and was the ABA Rookie of the Year in 1973-74, a two-time All-Star and a two-time All-ABA pick with San Antonio.

Nater was traded to the New York Nets in June 1975 and was sent back to the Squires in January 1976.

The Virginia franchise folded in May 1976 before the leagues merged and Nater signed with the Bucks in June 1976.

Nater played a season in Italy before retiring in 1985.

He is 28th in NBA history with a field-goal percentage of .537 and 29th with an average of 10.8 rebounds per game.

Next: 8 Years As Starter, Reserve

Home/LA Clippers