Lakers vs Clippers: Which is the best basketball team in LA and why?

Lakers vs Clippers: Which is the best basketball team in LA and why?

Claudia Kogi
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:24 PM

The Lakers vs Clippers battle has been evident within the NBA for the past two seasons. Things became even more intense when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George decided to head to Los Angeles Clippers. But that is just what we have come to expect in the NBA, where the rivalry between athletes helps to maintain healthy competition.

Lakers vs Clippers all games
Lakers vs Clippers: Which is the best basketball team in LA and why? Photo: NBA Photos, Nic Antaya (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

The two teams both play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Both based in the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Lakers have won 17 NBA championships since their founding in 1946, while the Clippers have won none.

Lakers vs Clippers all-time record

These Pacific Division teams play their home games at Crypto.com Arena in LA. Inspired by their matchups, their rivalry is often dubbed the Hallway Series or Battle of LA. Kobe Bryant's team relocated from Minneapolis in 1960, while the other team moved from San Diego in 1984.

Who has more wins between the Lakers and Clippers?

If a question about the Lakers vs Clippers' championships comes about, the Los Angeles Lakers have it all. The two teams have made 234 season-game appearances against each other, with the Lakers winning 150 of the games while the other team 84. However, they have never played against each other in the playoffs.

Lakers vs Clippers all time record
Kobe Bryant shoots the ball to tie the game against the Detroit Pistons in Game two of the 2004 NBA Finals on 8 June 2004, in LA, California. Photo: Andrew D Bernstein
Source: Getty Images

In terms of the championships, the Clippers have never won any. On the other hand, Los Angeles' most famous team has graced the NBA arena winning 17 championships since its debut. They won NBA championships in the following years; 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, and 2020.

In terms of Division titles, the Clippers won 2 in 2013 and 2014, while the other team has taken over the NBA titles, winning 33 of them in 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2020

Additionally, there were also several Conference Finals games the two teams took part in. However, the Clippers have so far won no titles, while the Lakers have won 19 in 1972, 1973, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2020.

Lakers vs Clippers all games

The Pacific Division teams have shown up for 234 games, with the Lakers winning 180 and the other winning 84.

Who has more wins between the Lakers and Clippers?
The LA Clippers honour the national anthem before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at LA Memorial Sports Arena in California, circa 1997. Photo: Andrew D Bernstein
Source: Getty Images

Lakers vs Clippers stars

Even though the Clippers' records are still low, it does not deter the fact that they also boast some of the best NBA players of all time. In this case, it is determined by the number of players who have won the Hall of Famer in both teams.

The Clippers have 12 Hall of Famers consisting of 8 players, three coaches, and a contributor.

Name

Position

Tenure

Inducted

Bill Walton

Centre

1979/1985

1993

Bob McAdoo

Forward

1972/1976

2000

Moses Malone

Centre

1976

2001

Dominique Wilkins

Forward

1994

2006

Adrian Dantley

Point guard

1976/1977

2008

Jamaal Wilkes

Forward

1985

2012

Grant Hill

Forward

2012/2013

2018

Paul Pierce

Forward

2015/2017

2021

Lakers Hall of Famers

The following are Lakers' players who were inducted into the Hall of Famer. They are 38 in total, including head and assistant coaches and contributors.

Lakers vs Clippers stars
Fans celebrate during Game Five of the 2001 NBA Finals on 15 June 2001, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Juan Ocampo
Source: Getty Images

Name

Position

Tenure

Inducted

George Mikan

Centre

1948/1954 1955/1956

1959

Jim Pollard

Point guard

1948/1955

1978

Jerry West

Forward

1960/1974

1980

Clyde Lovellette

Forward

1953/1957

1988

Vern Mikkelsen

Forward

1949/1959

1995

Gail Goodrich

Point guard

1965/1968 1970/1976

1996

Magic Johnson

Point guard

1979/1991 1996

2002

Adrian Dantley

Forward

1977/1979

2008

Dennis Rodman

Forward

1999

2011

Gary Payton

Point guard

2003/2004

2013

Spencer Haywood

Forward

1979/1980

2015

Shaquille O'Neal

Centre

1996/2004

2016

Steve Nash

Point guard

2012/2015

2018

Kobe Bryant

Point guard

1996/2016

2020

Elgin Baylor

Forward

1958/1971

1977

Wilt Chamberlain

Centre

1968/1973

1979

Slater Martin

Point guard

1949/1956

1982

Connie Hawkins

Centre

1973/1975

1992

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Centre

1975/1989

1995

Bob McAdoo

Forward

1981/1985

2000

James Worthy

Forward

1982/1994

2003

Karl Malone

Forward

2003/2004

2010

Jamaal Wilkes

Forward

1977/1985

2012

Mitch Richmond

Centre

2001/2002

2014

Zelmo Beaty

Point guard

1974/1975

2016

Vlade Divac

Centre

1989/1996 2004/2005

2019

Lou Hudson

Forward

1977–1979

2022

Lakers vs Clippers squad

Playing in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, both teams boast some of the best NBA players in history, with the likes of LeBron James, Nicolas Batum, and Westbrook Russell, among others. Here are the current rosters of the two teams.

Lakers current roster

  • Patrick Beverley
  • Troy Randall Brown Jr
  • Thomas Jermaine Bryant
  • Cormac Karl Max Christie Jr
  • Anthony Marshon Davis Jr
  • Wenyen Gabriel
  • Rui Hachimura
  • LeBron Raymone James Sr
  • Damian William Jones
  • Scotty Maurice Pippen Jr
  • Austin Tyler Reaves
  • Dennis Schroder
  • Cole Swider
  • Juan Ronel Toscano-Anderson
  • Lonnie Walker IV
  • Russell Westbrook III

Clippers current roster

  • Nicolas Batum
  • Brandon Elliot BJ Boston Jr
  • Moses Shirief-Lamar Brown
  • Amir Coffey
  • Robert Covington
  • Moussa Diabate
  • Paul Clifton Anthony George
  • Reginald Shon Jackson
Lakers vs Clippers' championships
The LA Clippers huddle before a game on 27 November 2000, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Andrew D Bernstein
Source: Getty Images
  • Luke Douglas Kennard
  • Kawhi Anthony Leonard
  • Terance Stanley Mann
  • Marcus Thomas Morris Sr
  • Norman WC Powell
  • Jason Preston
  • Johnathan Hildred Wall Jr
  • Ivica Zubac

Lakers vs Clippers team value

According to various online sources, the LA Clippers are ranked as the 18th most valuable basketball team in the United States of America, with an alleged value of $430 million. On the other hand, they are ranked 2nd with an estimated net worth of $643 million.

Although the Lakers vs Clippers battle shows the Lakers as the better basketball team, it does not mean the other team is not good. On the contrary, the team boasts some legendary athletes recognized by the Basketball Hall of Fame.

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Authors
Claudia Kogi photo
Claudia Kogi
Claudia Kogi is a Kenyan content creator with over 3 years of experience. Claudia joined Sportsbrief.com as a writer in January 2022, covering sports and relatable content.
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