Tag: Buffalo Braves

The day the Boston Celtics became the Buffalo Braves, now known as the Los Angeles Clippers

It was on this very day that the Celtics who won all those titles in the 1960s and 70s became the team that is now called … the Clippers?

On July 7 in 1978, one of the weirdest chapters of the storied franchise’s history unfolded as the Celtics became the (then) Buffalo Braves (now, Los Angeles Clippers) and the Braves the Celtics when the NBA granted permission for the swap

Confused? You should be — it is perhaps the only time in the history of major North American professional sports that franchise owners swapped ownership of their respective franchises in a move that has largely been forgotten by fans, buried by the sands of time. Save when Los Angeles Lakers fans get angered by Boston fans suggesting the Lakers ought to eschew counting their titles from when the team was based in Minneapolis, anyway.

Boston’s owner at the time — Irv Levin — wanted to move to the west coast, but there was no way the NBA would approve a move for the Celtics to go there with him.

The day the Boston Celtics became the Buffalo Braves, now known as the Los Angeles Clippers

It was on this very day that the Celtics who won all those titles in the 1960s and 70s became the team that is now called … the Clippers?

On July 8 in 1978, one of the weirdest chapters of the storied franchise’s history unfolded as the Celtics became the (then) Buffalo Braves (now, Los Angeles Clippers) and the Braves the Celtics.

Confused? You should be — it is perhaps the only time in the history of major North American professional sports that franchise owners swapped ownership of their respective franchises in a move that has largely been forgotten by fans, buried by the sands of time. Save when Los Angeles Lakers fans get angered by Boston fans suggesting the Lakers ought to eschew counting their titles from when the team was based in Minneapolis, anyway.

Boston’s owner at the time — Irv Levin — wanted to move to the west coast, but there was no way the NBA would approve a move for the Celtics to go there with him.

On this day: Braves, Celtics swap franchises; Al Horford signs

On this day in 1978, the Boston Celtics swapped franchises with the Buffalo Braves (yes, really!), and Al Horford signed with the team in 2016.

On this day in 1978, one of the weirdest chapters of Boston Celtics history unfolded as the Celtics became the Buffalo Braves and the Braves the Celtics.

Confused? You should be — it is perhaps the only time in the history of major North American professional sports that franchise owners swapped ownership of their respective franchises in a move that has largely been forgotten by fans, buried by the sands of time.

Boston’s owner at the time — Irv Levin — wanted to move to the west coast, but there was no way the NBA would approve a move for the Celtics to go there with him.

Instead, one the suggestion of NBA lawyer and future commissioner David Stern, he pitched Buffalo’s owner, John Y. Brown, to swap franchises, and Brown agreed.

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LOOK: Josh Allen wears Buffalo Braves jersey to Bills’ season finale

Josh Allen arrived at the Buffalo Bills’ season finale rocking a Buffalo Braves jersey.

Make sure to file this under ‘things you didn’t expect to see in 2019.’

Ahead of the Buffalo Bills’ Week 17 matchup with the New York Jets, quarterback Josh Allen rolled into New Era Field rocking a Buffalo Braves jersey.

One could say that he’s exiting the 2019 season in (literal) style.

 

If the jersey seems a bit foreign to you, don’t worry, you’re likely not alone. The Braves, Buffalo’s sole foray into the world of professional basketball, played in the NBA from 1970-1978, bolting for the sunny beaches of San Diego a full 18 years before Allen was born.

The team rebranded as the Clippers after moving to Southern California, ultimately moving 120 miles up the coast to Los Angeles in 1984.

Though the Braves only played in Buffalo for eight seasons, the team was relatively successful. They made the playoffs on three separate occasions and even employed a league MVP, with franchise player Bob McAdoo winning the prestigious award in 1975.

Despite league-average fan support and relative financial stability, the Braves left the City of Good Neighbors in 1978 after they were unable to achieve higher priority at Buffalo’s Memorial Auditorium.

The team had long been an afterthought in the basketball zeitgeist, an answer to trivia questions such as ‘Where did the Los Angeles Clippers originate?’ and ‘Which team did Hall of Fame forward Moses Malone play two games for in 1976?’

It regained some notoriety earlier this year when the Clippers introduced a vintage Braves jersey as an alternate uniform for the 2019-20 season. Los Angeles has worn the jersey a few times this season, giving Buffalo basketball fans the opportunity to see players like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in Braves’ uniforms.

It was this jersey that Allen wore to the Bills’ 2019 season finale. In a time in which Buffalo’s other professional sports team, the NHL’s Sabres, consistently finds ways to disappoint, perhaps reminding Western New York that it once had a professional basketball team is the pick-me-up the region needed.

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How to Watch Los Angeles Clippers, Preview, NBA Live Stream, Clippers vs Celtics, Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time

Watch the Los Angeles Clippers Live Online.

Tonight for the first time this season Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will suit up and play together. This is what fans have been waiting for and should be an entertaining game, to say the least. The Celtics have been cruising along this year and will be a tough test for them on the road.

Watch the Los Angeles Clippers 2019-20 Season

Next game: vs. Boston Celtics, Nov. 20, 10:00 p.m. ET 

Local TV affiliate: Fox Sports West

Streaming option for the season: fuboTV (watch for free)

The Clippers may have landed the best player in the NBA when acquiring Leonard during the offseason. As the reigning Finals MVP, Leonard’s combination of defensive ability and scoring acumen has him consistently talked about as the best all-around player in the league. Combined with the newly acquired Paul George, the Clippers have two stars that can potentially carry them to the promised land.

But the NBA is about depth as much as it is about star power, and the Clippers have that as well. Defending sixth man of the year Lou Williams is still available to give second units around the league nightmares, while players like Montrezl Harrell should see easier opportunities now that defenses have to focus on Leonard and George. Whether this group can get on the same page in time for a postseason run remains to be seen, but this unit could be the most exciting in the history of the Clippers.

Clippers November 2019 Schedule

All Times ET

Mon. Nov. 18 vs. Thunder, 10:30 PM

Wed. Nov. 20 vs. Celtics, 10:00 PM

Fri. Nov. 22 vs. Rockets, 10:30 PM

Sun. Nov 24 vs. Pelicans, 9:00 PM

Tues. Nov. 26 @ Mavericks, 8:30 PM

Wed. Nov. 27 @ Grizzlies, 8:00 PM

Fri. Nov. 29 @ Spurs, 8:30 PM

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