1994–95 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 = 1995

| wins = 17

| losses = 65

| division = Pacific

| division_place = 7th

| conf_place = 13th

| coach = Bill Fitch

| arena = Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Arrowhead Pond

| owners = Donald Sterling

| television = KCOP-TV
(Ralph Lawler, Bill Walton)

| radio = KMPC
(Rory Markas)

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| bbr_team =

}}

The 1994–95 NBA season was the Clippers' 25th season in the National Basketball Association, and their first season in Anaheim.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/1995.html 1994-95 Los Angeles Clippers] In the 1994 NBA draft, the Clippers selected Lamond Murray from the University of California with the seventh overall pick.{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Clifton | title = BASKETBALL; The Bucks Go with Robinson as No. 1 Pick | work = The New York Times | date = June 30, 1994 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/30/sports/basketball-the-bucks-go-with-robinson-as-no-1-pick.html | access-date = July 30, 2021}}{{cite news | last = Denlinger | first = Ken | title = Robinson Goes with the Bucks | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = June 30, 1994 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/06/30/robinson-goes-with-the-bucks/3e3bc384-1f59-4554-87a1-43ff800f3454/ | access-date = December 1, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Baker | first = Chris | title = NBA DRAFT: Clippers Select Murray: Pro Basketball: Cal Forward Drafted Amid Rumors of Impending Mark Jackson Trade | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 30, 1994 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-30-sp-10445-story.html | access-date = June 3, 2023}}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = NBA DRAFT: Lakers Recall the Past: Pro Basketball: Temple Guard Jones Reminiscent of Former Great Michael Cooper | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 30, 1994 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-30-sp-10443-story.html | access-date = June 3, 2023}}{{cite web | title = 1994 NBA Draft | work = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1994.html | access-date = December 1, 2022}} During the off-season, the team acquired Pooh Richardson, Malik Sealy, and top draft pick Eric Piatkowski out of the University of Nebraska from the Indiana Pacers,{{cite news | last = Brown | first = Clifton | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Mark Jackson Acquired by Pacers | work = The New York Times | date = July 1, 1994 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/01/sports/pro-basketball-mark-jackson-acquired-by-pacers.html | access-date = December 30, 2021}}{{cite news | last = Baker | first = Chris | title = This Way Is OK for Pooh: Clippers: Richardson Is Glad to Be Back in Los Angeles After Being Obtained in Trade That Sends Jackson to Pacers | work = Los Angeles Times | date = July 1, 1994 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-01-sp-10698-story.html | access-date = July 25, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Richardson, Jackson Switch Teams in Clippers-Pacers Deal | work = Tampa Bay Times | date = July 1, 1994 | url = https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/07/01/richardson-jackson-switch-teams-in-clippers-pacers-deal/ | access-date = December 20, 2022}} and signed free agent Tony Massenburg.{{cite news | last = Penner | first = Mike | title = Clippers Are Better Than Empty Pond | work = Los Angeles Times | date = October 19, 1994 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-19-sp-52219-story.html | access-date = December 20, 2022}}

The Clippers started the season playing their first two games overseas against the Portland Trail Blazers in Yokohama, Japan.{{cite news | title = Clippers and Blazers to Open NBA Season in Japan | work = United Press International | date = July 7, 1994 | url = https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/07/07/Clippers-and-Blazers-to-open-NBA-season-in-Japan/3207773553600/ | access-date = January 30, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Sports Briefings; N.B.A. in Japan | work = The New York Times | date = November 3, 1994 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/03/sports/sports-briefings-nba-in-japan.html | access-date = June 21, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Staff and Wire Reports | title = Change of Hemisphere Doesn't Help Clippers | work = Los Angeles Times | date = November 5, 1994 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-05-sp-58932-story.html | access-date = September 22, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Staff and Wire Reports | title = Clippers End Poor Foreign Experience: Pro Basketball: Twenty-Five Turnovers Are Key Factor in a 112-95 Loss to the Trail Blazers | work = Los Angeles Times | date = November 6, 1994 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-06-sp-59366-story.html | access-date = July 20, 2017}} However, under new head coach Bill Fitch,{{cite news | last = Baker | first = Chris | title = Clippers Call on Fitch to Rebuild: Pro Basketball: Veteran Coach with Reputation of Helping Mediocre Clubs Will Return to NBA After Two-Year Break | work = Los Angeles Times | date = July 28, 1994 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-28-sp-20761-story.html | access-date = November 8, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Bonk | first = Thomas | title = They Are Voices of Experience: NBA Teams Turn Back the Clock by Hiring Dick Motta (63), Bill Fitch (60), and Del Harris (57) | work = Los Angeles Times | date = October 28, 1994 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-28-sp-55722-story.html | access-date = January 29, 2023}} they struggled losing their first 16 games of the season, as Stanley Roberts missed the entire season with a ruptured Achilles tendon.{{cite news | last = Baker | first = Chris | title = Clippers' Roberts Sidelined for Season: Pro Basketball: Center Ruptures Left Achilles' Tendon. He Ruptured the Right Achilles' Last Season | work = Los Angeles Times | date = October 27, 1994 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-27-sp-55216-story.html?_amp=true | access-date = January 14, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Baker | first = Chris | title = CLIPPERS: Roberts Has Surgery on Achilles' Tendon | work = Los Angeles Times | date = October 29, 1994 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-29-sp-56212-story.html | access-date = November 8, 2022}} The Clippers held an 8–40 record at the All-Star break,{{cite news | title = NBA Games Played on February 9, 1995 | work = Basketball-Reference | date = | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=9&year=1995 | access-date = January 3, 2023}} and finished last place in the Pacific Division with the league's worst record at 17–65.{{cite web|title=1994–95 Los Angeles Clippers Schedule and Results|publisher=Basketball-Reference|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/1995_games.html|access-date=July 1, 2021}}

Showing improvement was Loy Vaught, who led the team with 17.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, while Murray averaged 14.1 points per game, but was not selected to an All-Rookie Team at season's end, and Richardson provided the team with 10.9 points, 7.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game. In addition, Sealy contributed 13.0 points per game, while second-year guard Terry Dehere provided with 10.4 points per game off the bench, Massenburg averaged 9.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, and second-year forward Bo Outlaw led the team with 1.9 blocks per game.{{cite web|title=1994–95 Los Angeles Clippers Roster and Stats|publisher=Basketball-Reference|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAC/1995.html|access-date=July 1, 2021}}

The only highlight of the season was the Clippers defeating their crosstown rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, 109–84 at The Forum on December 9, 1994, which was their second win of the season.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = BASEBALL; No Stopping the Clippers Now | work = The New York Times | date = December 10, 1994 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/10/sports/baseball-no-stopping-the-clippers-now.html | access-date = January 30, 2023}}{{cite news | last = Downey | first = Mike | title = Lakers Out of Sync, So Clippers Put It in the Refrigerator | work = Los Angeles Times | date = December 11, 1994 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-11-sp-7819-story.html?_amp=true | access-date = January 14, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, December 9, 1994 | work = Basketball-Reference | date = | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199412090LAL.html | access-date = November 19, 2022}} Following the season, Gary Grant was released to free agency, and signed as a free agent with the New York Knicks during the next season,{{cite news | last = Heisler | first = Mark | title = THE NBA / MARK HEISLER: New Kids Don't Get Bullied by Anybody | work = Los Angeles Times | date = November 26, 1995 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-26-sp-7454-story.html | access-date = November 8, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Grant Gets a Kick Out of Club Knick | work = The New York Times | date = December 17, 1995 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/17/sports/pro-basketball-grant-gets-a-kick-out-of-club-knick.html | access-date = July 1, 2022}} while Massenburg was left unprotected in the 1995 NBA Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the newly expansion Toronto Raptors,{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Anthony Is No. 2 of the Secaucus 27 | work = The New York Times | date = June 25, 1995 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/25/sports/pro-basketball-anthony-is-no-2-of-the-secaucus-27.html | access-date = October 5, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Heisler | first = Mark | title = Armstrong Becomes Top Expansion Pick: NBA: Raptors Take Guard from Bulls. Massenburg Also Headed to Toronto, While Lakers Lose Harvey to Vancouver | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 25, 1995 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-25-sp-17060-story.html | access-date = December 20, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Smith | first = Sam | title = Toronto Picks Armstrong; May Not Trade Him | work = Chicago Tribune | date = June 25, 1995 | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-06-25-9506250324-story.html | access-date = July 8, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = NBA Expansion Draft -- Point Guards Are Top Priority for Young Raptors, Grizzlies | work = The Seattle Times | date = June 25, 1995 | url = https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19950625&slug=2128241 | access-date = January 31, 2023}}{{cite web | title = 1995 NBA Expansion Draft | work = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1995_expansion.html | access-date = July 8, 2023}} and Elmore Spencer was traded to the Denver Nuggets.