Los Angeles Lakers
The season that launched the Lob City era.
The 2011–12 Los Angeles Clippers season was the 42nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), their 34th season in Southern California, and their 28th season in Los Angeles. Following the 2011 NBA lockout each team only played 66 games instead of the usual 82. The Clippers finished 40–26, their best winning percentage in franchise history at the time, and their first winning season since 2006. They finished the season as the #5 seed in the Western Conference, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
- rival_type
- Intra-city rivalry
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
It marked the first season with 3x All-Star and 2008 All-NBA First Team selection Chris Paul, following the completion of a trade in December with the New Orleans Hornets. Originally thought to be heading to the Lakers, Paul would make the All-NBA Third Team and lead the "Lob City" era of the Clippers for the next six years. The first year of the "Lob City" Clippers trio - Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan - who remained together until 2018.
In Their Own Story
In the playoffs, the Clippers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in the First Round in seven games, but were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the Semifinals in four games. The Clippers entered the draft with two second-round selections, both acquired via previous trades. They had traded their original first- and second-round selections to the Cleveland Cavaliers (which turned out to be the first overall pick that was used to draft Kyrie Irving) and the Houston Rockets, respectively.
Reader's Guide
Forward Caron Butler becomes the 17th former Laker to play with the crosstown rival Clippers. Forward Bobby Simmons makes his second tour of duty with the Clippers. He played for the team from 2003 to 2005. Due to the 2011 NBA lockout negotiations, the programmed pre-season schedule, along with the first two weeks of the regular season were scrapped, and a two-game pre-season was set for each team once the lockout concluded.
Did You Know?
- The Clippers finished 40–26, their best winning percentage in franchise history at the time.
- Chris Paul was originally thought to be heading to the Lakers before the trade to the Clippers was completed in December.
- The Clippers had traded their original first-round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers, which became the first overall pick used to draft Kyrie Irving.
- Forward Caron Butler became the 17th former Laker to play with the crosstown rival Clippers.
- The Clippers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in the First Round in seven games.