1991–92 Los Angeles Clippers season

{{short description|NBA professional basketball team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox NBA season

| team = Los Angeles Clippers

| league = National Basketball Association

| end_year = 1992

| wins = 45

| losses = 37

| division = Pacific

| division_place = 5

| conf_place = 7

| coach = Mike Schuler (fired)
Mack Calvin (interim)
Larry Brown

| arena = Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

| owners = Donald Sterling

| television = KCOP-TV
(Ralph Lawler, Mike Fratello)
SportsChannel Los Angeles
(Joel Meyers, Jerry Tarkanian)

| radio = KRLA
(Rich Marotta)

| playoffs = West First Round
(lost to Jazz 2–3)

| bbr_team = LAC

}}

The 1991–92 NBA season was the Clippers' 22nd season in the National Basketball Association, and their 8th season in Los Angeles.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/1992.html 1991-92 Los Angeles Clippers] During the off-season, the Clippers acquired Doc Rivers from the Atlanta Hawks,{{cite news | last = Goldaper | first = Sam | title = BASKETBALL; The Final Word on Draft: Trades | work = The New York Times | date = June 28, 1991 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/28/sports/basketball-the-final-word-on-draft-trades.html | access-date = December 15, 2021}}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = 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 | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 27, 1991 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-27-sp-1790-story.html | access-date = November 18, 2022}}{{cite news | last = | first = | title = Clippers Pull Off Two Trades | work = Tampa Bay Times | date = June 27, 1991 | url = https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1991/06/27/clippers-pull-off-two-trades/ | access-date = November 18, 2022}} and James Edwards from the Detroit Pistons.{{cite news | title = SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; 2 Big Trades for Pistons | work = The New York Times | date = August 14, 1991 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/14/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-2-big-trades-for-pistons.html | access-date = January 19, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Klein | first = Gary | title = 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 | work = Los Angeles Times | date = August 14, 1991 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-08-14-sp-486-story.html | access-date = January 28, 2023}} 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.{{cite news |first=Larry |last=Stewart |title=Schuler Fired as Clippers' Coach |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=February 3, 1992 |page=31 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20386334/schuler_fired_as_clippers_coach/ |via=Newspapers.com }} After splitting two games under interim Mack Calvin, and holding a 22–25 record at the All-Star break,{{cite news | title = NBA Games Played on February 6, 1992 | work = Basketball-Reference | date = | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/index.fcgi?month=2&day=6&year=1992 | access-date = November 21, 2022}} the team hired Larry Brown, who resigned as coach of the San Antonio Spurs a few weeks earlier.{{cite news | last = Martinez | first = Michael | title = BASKETBALL; Brown's 'Last Stop' Is Job with Clippers | work = The New York Times | date = February 7, 1992 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/07/sports/basketball-brown-s-last-stop-is-job-with-clippers.html | access-date = January 15, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = 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 | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 7, 1992 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-02-07-sp-1476-story.html | access-date = November 18, 2022}}

Under Brown, the Clippers won 23 of their final 35 games to finish fifth in the Pacific Division with a 45–37 record.{{cite web|title=1991–92 Los Angeles Clippers Schedule and Results|publisher=Basketball-Reference|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/1992_games.html|access-date=December 1, 2021}} 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.{{cite news | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Clippers End Long Playoff Wait | work = The New York Times | date = April 17, 1992 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/17/sports/pro-basketball-clippers-end-long-playoff-wait.html | access-date = July 26, 2017}} 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.{{cite news | last = | first = | title = Charles Smith Out with Knee Injury | work = United Press International | date = October 19, 1991 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/10/19/Charles-Smith-out-with-knee-injury/2774687844800/ | access-date = January 28, 2023}}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = CLIPPERS: Smith Has Surgery, Is Out Four to Six Weeks | work = Los Angeles Times | date = October 20, 1991 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-20-sp-415-story.html | access-date = January 28, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Los Angeles Times | title = Clippers' Smith Sidelined 4-6 Weeks | work = Sun Sentinel | date = October 20, 1991 | url = https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1991-10-20-9102120171-story.html | access-date = January 28, 2023}} 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.{{cite web|title=1991–92 Los Angeles Clippers Roster and Stats|publisher=Basketball-Reference|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/1992.html|access-date=January 5, 2022}} Brown finished in fourth place in Coach of the Year voting.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Nelson's Consolation Prize | work = The New York Times | date = May 22, 1992 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/22/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-nelson-s-consolation-prize.html | access-date = November 21, 2022}}

However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Clippers lost in five games to the Utah Jazz.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = BASKETBALL; Jazz Beats Its Demons and Clippers | work = The New York Times | date = May 5, 1992 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/05/sports/basketball-jazz-beats-its-demons-and-clippers.html | access-date = October 14, 2021}}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = 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 | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 5, 1992 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-05-05-sp-1571-story.html | access-date = July 26, 2022}}{{cite web | title = 1992 NBA Western Conference First Round: Clippers vs. Jazz | work = Basketball-Reference | date = | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1992-nba-western-conference-first-round-clippers-vs-jazz.html | access-date = April 18, 2023}} Following the season, Smith, Rivers and second-year guard Bo Kimble were all traded to the New York Knicks,{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Clifton | title = BASKETBALL; Knicks Get Trade, Thanks to Roberts | work = The New York Times | date = September 23, 1992 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/23/sports/basketball-knicks-get-trade-thanks-to-roberts.html?pagewanted=all | access-date = December 15, 2021}}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = 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 | work = Los Angeles Times | date = September 23, 1992 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-09-23-sp-1257-story.html | access-date = July 26, 2022}}{{cite news | last = | first = | title = Knicks, Magic, Clippers Complete Trade | work = United Press International | date = September 22, 1992 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/09/22/Knicks-Magic-Clippers-complete-trade/2397717134400/ | access-date = November 18, 2022}} while Edwards signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers,{{cite news | last = Heisler | first = Mark | title = Edwards, Higgins Sign with Lakers: Basketball: Former Clipper Center Returns to Where He Started; Former Fairfax Standout Played Well in Summer League | work = Los Angeles Times | date = August 14, 1992 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-14-sp-5274-story.html | access-date = November 18, 2022}}{{cite news | last = | first = | title = Around the NBA | work = The Washington Post | date = August 14, 1992 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1992/08/14/around-the-nba/a8e515ef-6ccb-44b5-ae30-156eaa6f0a11/ | access-date = January 28, 2023}} and Polynice was dealt to the Detroit Pistons.{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = Clippers Go Forward to MacLean: NBA Draft: Polynice Is Traded to... | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 25, 1992 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-25-sp-1396-story.html?_amp=true | access-date = November 18, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = 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 | work = Los Angeles Times | date = November 17, 1992 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-17-sp-551-story.html | access-date = November 18, 2022}}