1991–92 Los Angeles Clippers season

The 1991–92 NBA season was the Clippers' 22nd season in the National Basketball Association, and their 8th season in Los Angeles.^[1] During the off-season, the Clippers acquired Doc Rivers from the Atlanta Hawks,^[2][3][4] and James Edwards from the Detroit Pistons.^[5][6] The Clippers, led by Danny Manning and Ron Harper, won five of their first seven games. They would lose six straight afterwards, but then post an 8-game winning streak in December which led them to a 14–10 start. However, they would struggle over the next few weeks sliding back below .500 with a 21–24 record as head coach Mike Schuler was fired.^[7] After splitting two games under interim Mack Calvin, and holding a 22–25 record at the All-Star break,^[8] the team hired Larry Brown, who resigned as coach of the San Antonio Spurs a few weeks earlier.^[9][10]

1991–92 Los Angeles Clippers season
Head coach	Mike Schuler (fired) Mack Calvin (interim) Larry Brown
Owners	Donald Sterling
Arena	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Results
Record	45–37 (.549)
Place	Division: 5th (Pacific) Conference: 7th (Western)
Playoff finish	West First Round (lost to Jazz 2–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KCOP-TV (Ralph Lawler, Mike Fratello) SportsChannel Los Angeles (Joel Meyers, Jerry Tarkanian)
Radio	KRLA (Rich Marotta)
< 1990–91 1992–93 >

Under Brown, the Clippers won 23 of their final 35 games to finish fifth in the Pacific Division with a 45–37 record.^[11] Making their first playoff appearance since the 1975–76 season when they were known as the Buffalo Braves, and ending a fifteen-year playoff drought.^[12] This season was also their first to finish with a winning record since 1978-79. This season also marked the first time that the Clippers finished with a better record than their crosstown rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, who finished two games behind them with a 43–39 record.

Manning averaged 19.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, while Harper averaged 18.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game, and Charles D. Smith provided the team with 14.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, but only played just 49 games due to a knee injury.^[13][14][15] In addition, Ken Norman averaged 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while Rivers contributed 10.9 points, 3.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game, Olden Polynice provided with 8.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, and Gary Grant contributed 7.8 points, 6.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Edwards averaged 9.7 points per game off the bench, and second-year forward Loy Vaught provided with 7.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.^[16] Brown finished in fourth place in Coach of the Year voting.^[17]

However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Clippers lost in five games to the Utah Jazz.^[18][19][20] Following the season, Smith, Rivers and second-year guard Bo Kimble were all traded to the New York Knicks,^[21][22][23] while Edwards signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers,^[24][25] and Polynice was dealt to the Detroit Pistons.^[26][27]

Draft picks

Main article: 1991 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	22	LeRon Ellis	C/PF	United States	Syracuse
2	37	Elliot Perry	PG	United States	Memphis
2	38	Joe Wylie	PF	United States	Miami (FL)

Roster

1991–92 Los Angeles Clippers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From C 53 Edwards, James 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1955–11–22 Washington PF 22 Ellis, LeRon 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1969–04–28 Syracuse PG 23 Grant, Gary 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1965–04–21 Michigan SG 4 Harper, Ron 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1964–01–20 Miami (OH) SG 30 Kimble, Bo 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1966–04–09 Loyola Marymount PF 5 Manning, Danny 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1966–05–17 Kansas SF 3 Norman, Ken 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1964–09–05 Illinois C 0 Polynice, Olden 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1964–11–21 Virginia PG 32 Rivers, David 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–01–20 Notre Dame PG 25 Rivers, Doc 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1961–10–13 Marquette PF 54 Smith, Charles D. 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1965–07–16 Pittsburgh SF 35 Vaught, Loy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1968–02–27 Michigan SG 21 Young, Danny 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1962–07–26 Wake Forest

Head coach Larry Brown Assistant coach(es) Mack Calvin John Hammond Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Roster notes

• Forward Tony Brown became the 5th former Laker to play with the crosstown rival Clippers. He would later serve as an assistant coach for the team under coaches Mike Dunleavy, Sr. and Kim Hughes from 2008 to 2010
• This is point guard David Rivers's second tour of duty with the franchise. He previously played for the team in 1989–1990.

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Portland Trail Blazers	57	25	.695	—	33–8	24–17	21–9
x-Golden State Warriors	55	27	.671	2	31–10	24–17	19–11
x-Phoenix Suns	53	29	.646	4	36–5	17–24	17–13
x-Seattle SuperSonics	47	35	.573	10	28–13	19–22	16–14
x-Los Angeles Clippers	45	37	.549	12	29–12	16–25	13–17
x-Los Angeles Lakers	43	39	.524	14	24–17	19–22	13–17
Sacramento Kings	29	53	.354	28	21–20	8–33	6–24

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Portland Trail Blazers	57	25	.695	–
2	y-Utah Jazz	55	27	.671	2
3	x-Golden State Warriors	55	27	.671	2
4	x-Phoenix Suns	53	29	.646	4
5	x-San Antonio Spurs	47	35	.573	10
6	x-Seattle SuperSonics	47	35	.573	10
7	x-Los Angeles Clippers	45	37	.549	12
8	x-Los Angeles Lakers	43	39	.524	14
9	Houston Rockets	42	40	.512	15
10	Sacramento Kings	29	53	.354	28
11	Denver Nuggets	24	58	.293	33
12	Dallas Mavericks	22	60	.268	35
13	Minnesota Timberwolves	15	67	.183	42

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1991-92 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	–	3–1	2–2	0–5	0–5	2–0	2–0	1–4	1–1	2–0	1–4	1–1	0–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2
Boston	1–3	–	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–2	2–2	0–2	2–3	3–2	5–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–1
Charlotte	2–2	1–3	–	0–4	2–3	1–1	1–1	1–4	1–1	0–2	3–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	2–3	1–1	1–3	0–4	3–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–2
Chicago	5–0	3–1	4–0	–	3–2	2–0	2–0	4–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	3–2	2–0	4–0	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–0
Cleveland	5–0	1–3	3–2	2–3	–	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	5–0	1–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	2–2	4–0	3–1	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0
Dallas	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	–	3–2	0–2	0–4	4–2	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–1	3–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–4	1–3	0–5	0–4	1–4	0–2
Denver	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–3	–	0–2	0–4	2–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–4	1–3	1–5	1–1
Detroit	4–1	0–4	4–1	1–4	1–3	2–0	2–0	–	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–2	2–0	2–2	3–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	4–0	3–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
Golden State	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	–	2–2	2–0	3–2	3–2	1–1	2–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–3	5–0	2–2	3–2	1–3	2–0
Houston	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–4	3–2	0–2	2–2	–	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	3–1	3–1	3–2	1–3	1–4	2–0
Indiana	4–1	2–2	2–3	1–3	0–5	1–1	2–0	2–2	0–2	1–1	–	0–2	2–0	3–1	4–1	2–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–2
L.A. Clippers	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	4–0	2–0	2–3	2–2	2–0	–	2–3	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–3	2–3	2–2	2–3	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	3–1	0–2	2–3	2–2	0–2	3–2	–	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–3	1–4	4–1	1–3	1–4	1–3	1–1
Miami	2–2	2–3	3–1	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	–	4–0	2–0	2–2	1–4	3–1	1–4	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–0
Milwaukee	1–3	2–2	3–2	2–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–3	0–2	1–1	1–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	–	2–0	0–4	1–3	3–1	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
Minnesota	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–3	3–2	1–1	0–4	2–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–2	–	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–6	0–4	2–3	0–2
New Jersey	1–3	3–2	3–1	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	4–0	2–0	–	2–3	3–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–3
New York	2–2	2–3	4–0	0–4	0–4	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	4–1	3–1	2–0	3–2	–	4–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	4–0
Orlando	2–2	0–5	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–3	2–0	1–3	1–4	–	3–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–3
Philadelphia	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–4	2–0	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	4–1	1–3	2–0	2–3	1–3	2–3	–	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	5–0
Phoenix	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–3	3–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	–	3–2	4–1	3–1	3–2	2–2	2–0
Portland	2–0	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	3–2	1–3	2–0	3–2	4–1	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–3	–	5–0	2–2	4–1	2–2	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	0–5	1–3	1–1	3–2	1–4	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–4	0–5	–	1–3	1–4	1–3	2–0
San Antonio	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	5–0	4–1	1–1	2–2	2–3	0–2	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	6–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	–	3–1	1–4	0–2
Seattle	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–3	3–1	2–0	3–2	4–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–3	1–4	4–1	1–3	–	3–1	2–0
Utah	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	5–1	1–1	3–1	4–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	4–1	1–3	–	2–0
Washington	2–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	0–4	2–0	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–5	1–3	2–0	3–2	0–4	3–2	0–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Playoffs

1992 playoff game log
First round: 2–3 (home: 2–0; road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 24 @ Utah L 97–115 Doc Rivers (23) Charles Smith (9) Doc Rivers (5) Delta Center 19,911 0–1 2 April 26 @ Utah L 92–103 Danny Manning (22) Ken Norman (14) Doc Rivers (6) Delta Center 19,911 0–2 3 April 28 Utah W 98–88 Danny Manning (17) Ron Harper (12) three players tied (5) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 14,086 1–2 4 May 3 Utah W 115–107 Danny Manning (33) Danny Manning (10) Norman, Grant (6) Anaheim Convention Center 7,148 2–2 5 May 4 @ Utah L 89–98 Danny Manning (24) Ken Norman (10) Ron Harper (7) Delta Center 19,911 2–3
1992 schedule

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Tony Brown	22	0	11.5	.438	.318	.621	1.3	.7	.5	.0	4.7
Lanard Copeland	10	0	4.8	.304	.000	1.000	.7	.5	.2	.0	1.6
James Edwards	72	11	20.0	.465	.000	.731	2.8	.7	.3	.5	9.7
LeRon Ellis	29	0	3.6	.340	—	.474	.8	.0	.2	.3	1.5
Gary Grant	78	53	26.3	.462	.294	.815	2.4	6.9	1.8	.2	7.8
Ron Harper	82	82	38.3	.440	.303	.736	5.5	5.1	1.9	.9	18.2
Bo Kimble	34	0	8.1	.396	.308	.645	.9	.5	.3	.2	3.3
Danny Manning	82	82	35.4	.542	.000	.725	6.9	3.5	1.6	1.5	19.3
Tharon Mayes	3	0	13.3	.400	.500	.667	.3	1.0	.7	.3	3.0
Ken Norman	77	24	26.1	.490	.143	.535	5.8	1.6	.7	.9	12.1
Elliot Perry	10	0	6.6	.400	.000	.500	.7	1.4	.9	.1	1.3
Olden Polynice	76	65	24.1	.519	.000	.622	7.1	.6	.6	.3	8.1
David Rivers	15	0	8.1	.333	.000	.909	1.3	1.4	.5	.1	2.0
Doc Rivers	59	25	28.1	.424	.283	.832	2.5	3.9	1.9	.3	10.9
Charles Smith	49	25	26.7	.466	.000	.785	6.1	1.1	.8	2.0	14.6
Loy Vaught	79	38	21.4	.492	.800	.797	6.5	.9	.5	.4	7.6
Danny Young	44	5	20.2	.391	.333	.887	1.5	3.5	.9	.1	5.3

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
James Edwards	5	0	17.4	.417	—	.632	2.6	.6	.2	.2	6.4
LeRon Ellis	1	0	2.0	—	—	—	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0
Gary Grant	5	1	15.4	.476	.000	1.000	.8	3.6	.6	.4	4.4
Ron Harper	5	5	41.2	.448	.111	.786	6.4	4.6	1.0	.8	18.0
Bo Kimble	3	0	1.7	.000	—	—	.0	.3	.0	.0	.0
Danny Manning	5	5	38.8	.568	.333	.645	5.6	2.8	1.0	.8	22.6
Ken Norman	5	5	36.8	.509	.000	.529	9.8	3.0	.8	.6	12.6
Olden Polynice	5	0	12.6	.583	—	.333	3.4	.6	.2	.2	3.2
Doc Rivers	5	4	37.4	.446	.500	.815	3.8	4.2	1.2	.0	15.2
Charles Smith	5	5	29.6	.393	—	.933	5.6	1.8	.8	2.4	11.6
Loy Vaught	5	0	7.2	.636	1.000	1.000	2.4	.8	.2	.2	3.4
Danny Young	3	0	3.7	.500	.000	—	.0	.3	.0	.0	1.3

Awards and records

Transactions

The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1991–92 season.

Trades

June 26, 1991	To Los Angeles Clippers Doc Rivers	To Atlanta Hawks 1991 first-round draft pick & 1993 and 1994 second-round draft picks
June 26, 1991	To Los Angeles Clippers 1996 or 1997 second-round draft pick	To Denver Nuggets Winston Garland
September 22, 1991	To Los Angeles Clippers James Edwards	To Detroit Pistons Jeff Martin & 1995 second-round draft pick

Free agents

Additions Player Signed Former team

Subtractions Player Left New team

Player Transactions Citation:^[28]

References

1. 1991-92 Los Angeles Clippers
2. Goldaper, Sam (June 28, 1991). "BASKETBALL; The Final Word on Draft: Trades". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
3. Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 27, 1991). "Clippers Make Point in Deal with Hawks: NBA Draft: Team Trades No. 9 Pick and Second-Round Selections in 1993 and 1994 for Guard Doc Rivers. Club Then Takes LeRon Ellis of Syracuse with 22nd Pick". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
4. "Clippers Pull Off Two Trades". Tampa Bay Times. June 27, 1991. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
5. "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; 2 Big Trades for Pistons". The New York Times. August 14, 1991. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
6. Klein, Gary (August 14, 1991). "Clippers Get Edwards--or a Big Headache: NBA: They Trade Reserve Guard Martin and a Draft Pick to Get 7-Foot-1 Piston Center, But He Is on His Way to Italy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
7. Stewart, Larry (February 3, 1992). "Schuler Fired as Clippers' Coach". Los Angeles Times. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1992". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
9. Martinez, Michael (February 7, 1992). "BASKETBALL; Brown's 'Last Stop' Is Job with Clippers". The New York Times. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
10. Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 7, 1992). "Brown Is Surprised by Interest of Clippers: Pro Basketball: New coach Says He Expected to Be Out of Work Longer After Being Fired by Spurs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
11. "1991–92 Los Angeles Clippers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
12. "PRO BASKETBALL; Clippers End Long Playoff Wait". The New York Times. April 17, 1992. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
13. "Charles Smith Out with Knee Injury". United Press International. October 19, 1991. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
14. Howard-Cooper, Scott (October 20, 1991). "CLIPPERS: Smith Has Surgery, Is Out Four to Six Weeks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
15. "Clippers' Smith Sidelined 4-6 Weeks". Sun Sentinel. Los Angeles Times. October 20, 1991. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
16. "1991–92 Los Angeles Clippers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
17. "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Nelson's Consolation Prize". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 22, 1992. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
18. "BASKETBALL; Jazz Beats Its Demons and Clippers". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 5, 1992. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
19. Howard-Cooper, Scott (May 5, 1992). "At Home, It's a Case of All That Jazz: Game 5: Utah Plays a Fourth-Quarter Jam Session to End Season for Clippers, 98-89. Record in Salt Lake City Becomes 40-4 with Seattle Series Ahead". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
20. "1992 NBA Western Conference First Round: Clippers vs. Jazz". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
21. Brown, Clifton (September 23, 1992). "BASKETBALL; Knicks Get Trade, Thanks to Roberts". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
22. Howard-Cooper, Scott (September 23, 1992). "Big Man, Big Deal: Roberts a Clipper: Pro Basketball: But They Have to Give Up a Lot to Acquire the Heavyweight Center, and Mark Jackson in Three-Team Deal with New York and Orlando". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
23. "Knicks, Magic, Clippers Complete Trade". United Press International. September 22, 1992. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
24. Heisler, Mark (August 14, 1992). "Edwards, Higgins Sign with Lakers: Basketball: Former Clipper Center Returns to Where He Started; Former Fairfax Standout Played Well in Summer League". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
25. "Around the NBA". The Washington Post. August 14, 1992. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
26. Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 25, 1992). "Clippers Go Forward to MacLean: NBA Draft: Polynice Is Traded to..." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
27. Howard-Cooper, Scott (November 17, 1992). "Polynice's Mutual Admiration Society: Pro Basketball: The Former Clipper Returns as a Piston, and Will Be Received by a Fan Club That Gets as Much as It Gives". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
28. "1991–92 Los Angeles Clippers Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 14, 2021.