1995–96 Los Angeles Clippers season

1995–96 Los Angeles Clippers season
Head coach	Bill Fitch
Owners	Donald Sterling
Arena	Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena Arrowhead Pond
Results
Record	29–53 (.354)
Place	Division: 7th (Pacific) Conference: 10th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Local media
Television	KCOP-TV (Ralph Lawler, Bill Walton)
Radio	KNNS (Rory Markas)

The 1995–96 NBA season was the Clippers' 26th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 2nd second in Anaheim.^[1] After finishing the previous season with the worst record, the Clippers received the second overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft,^[2][3] and selected Antonio McDyess from the University of Alabama, but soon traded him to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Brian Williams, Rodney Rogers, and top draft pick Brent Barry out of Oregon State University.^{[4][5][6][7][8]}

With the continued development of Loy Vaught, the Clippers showed some improvement with a 7–5 start to the regular season, but then suffered a nine-game losing streak afterwards between November and December. The team would again lose nine straight games between January and February,^[9] and hold a 16–32 record at the All-Star break,^[10] as they played without Williams (strained left arch), Rogers (sprained ankle), Pooh Richardson (calf injury), Malik Sealy (knee and thumb injuries), and Stanley Roberts (ankle) for long stretches during the season due to injuries.^[11][12][13] The Clippers lost their final four games, and finished in last place in the Pacific Division again with a 29–53 record.^[14]

Vaught led the team with 16.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, while Williams showed improvement, averaging 15.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, and sixth man Terry Dehere provided the team with 12.4 points and 4.3 assists per game, and led them with 139 three-point field goals off the bench. In addition, Richardson averaged 11.7 points and 5.4 assists per game, while Rogers provided with 11.6 points per game, and Sealy contributed 11.5 points per game. Barry provided with 10.1 points per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, while off the bench, second-year forward Lamond Murray contributed 8.4 points per game, Roberts averaged 7.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, and Bo Outlaw led the team with 1.1 blocks per game.^[15]

Barry also won the Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend in San Antonio, Texas.^{[16][17][18][19]} Williams finished tied in fifth place in Most Improved Player voting, and Outlaw finished tied in eighth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.^[20][21]

Following the season, Williams was released to free agency after just one season with the Clippers, due to the team not being able to agree to his high demanded asking price of a $101 million seven-year contract from the team, who offered him $12 million for three years;^{[22][23][24][25]} Williams spent most of the following season as a free agent before signing with the Chicago Bulls in next April, during the final month of the regular season.^{[26][27][28][29]}

Draft picks

Main article: 1995 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	2	Antonio McDyess	PF	United States	Alabama
2	53	Constantin Popa	C	Romania	Miami (FL)

Roster

1995–96 Los Angeles Clippers roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From G 31 Brent Barry 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) –– Oregon State G 24 Terry Dehere 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) –– Seton Hall F/C 40 Antonio Harvey 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) –– Pfeiffer F 7 Lamond Murray 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 236 lb (107 kg) –– California F 45 Bo Outlaw 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) –– Houston G 52 Eric Piatkowski 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) –– Nebraska G 2 Pooh Richardson 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) –– UCLA C 53 Stanley Roberts 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 285 lb (129 kg) –– LSU F 54 Rodney Rogers 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 260 lb (118 kg) –– Wake Forest G/F 21 Malik Sealy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg) –– St. John's C 51 Keith Tower 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) –– Notre Dame F 25 Logan Vander Velden 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) –– Green Bay F 35 Loy Vaught 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) –– Michigan C 8 Brian Williams 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 260 lb (118 kg) –– Arizona

Head coach Bill Fitch Assistant(s) Jim Brewer Barry Hecker Bob Ociepka Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: 2009-10-04

Roster Notes

• Forward/center Antonio Harvey became the 6th former Laker to play with the crosstown rival Clippers; he was signed by the team on January 3, 1996, after being released by the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies.^[30][31]

Regular season

Season standings

Pacific Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
c-Seattle SuperSonics	64	18	.780	–	38–3	26–15	21–3
x-Los Angeles Lakers	53	29	.646	11	30–11	23–18	17–7
x-Portland Trail Blazers	44	38	.537	20	26–15	18–23	11–13
x-Phoenix Suns	41	41	.500	23	25–16	16–25	9–15
x-Sacramento Kings	39	43	.476	25	26–15	13–28	11–13
Golden State Warriors	36	46	.439	28	23–18	13–28	7–17
Los Angeles Clippers	29	53	.354	35	19–22	10–31	7–17

Western Conference v t e
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB	GP
1	c-Seattle SuperSonics *	64	18	.780	–	82
2	y-San Antonio Spurs *	59	23	.720	5	82
3	x-Utah Jazz	55	27	.671	9	82
4	x-Los Angeles Lakers	53	29	.646	11	82
5	x-Houston Rockets	48	34	.585	16	82
6	x-Portland Trail Blazers	44	38	.537	20	82
7	x-Phoenix Suns	41	41	.500	23	82
8	x-Sacramento Kings	39	43	.476	25	82
9	Golden State Warriors	36	46	.439	28	82
10	Denver Nuggets	35	47	.427	29	82
11	Los Angeles Clippers	29	53	.354	35	82
12	Minnesota Timberwolves	26	56	.317	38	82
13	Dallas Mavericks	26	56	.317	38	82
14	Vancouver Grizzlies	15	67	.183	49	82

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1995-96 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	VAN	WAS
Atlanta	–	4–0	3–1	0–4	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	4–0	2–1	2–2	2–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–3
Boston	0–4	–	2–2	0–3	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	3–1	3–1	2–0	2–2	0–4	1–3	4–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	3–1	0–2	1–1	2–2
Charlotte	1–3	2–2	–	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	0–3	3–0	0–4	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	3–1
Chicago	4–0	3–0	3–1	–	4–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	4–0	2–0	3–0	3–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	4–0
Cleveland	1–3	3–1	1–3	0–4	–	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0	1–2	3–1	1–2	4–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
Dallas	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	–	2–2	0–2	2–2	1–3	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–3	4–0	0–2
Denver	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	–	1–1	2–2	1–3	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–2	1–1	4–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	0–4	0–4	0–4	1–3	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–1
Detroit	2–2	1–2	3–1	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	–	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	1–3	2–2	1–1	4–0	0–4	1–3	4–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	1–2
Golden State	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	0–2	–	2–2	1–1	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–3	4–0	1–1
Houston	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	–	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	2–0	2–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–4	2–0	2–2	4–0	1–1
Indiana	3–1	4–0	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	1–1	0–2	–	2–0	1–1	3–0	3–1	1–1	1–3	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	4–0	0–2	2–0	3–0
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	–	0–4	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	1–3	3–1	1–1
L.A. Lakers	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	1–1	4–0	–	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–2	4–0	1–1
Miami	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	0–3	1–1	0–2	–	3–0	1–1	5–0	1–3	1–3	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–1	0–2	1–1	2–2
Milwaukee	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–4	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–3	–	1–1	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–3
Minnesota	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0	0–4	1–1	1–3	2–2	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	–	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–4	3–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–3	2–2	0–2
New Jersey	0–4	2–2	3–0	0–3	2–1	1–1	2–0	0–4	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	0–5	3–1	1–1	–	2–2	0–4	2–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	2–0	2–2
New York	1–2	4–0	0–3	1–3	1–3	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–2	–	1–3	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	3–1
Orlando	2–2	3–1	4–0	1–3	2–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	–	4–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–1	1–1	2–0	4–0
Philadelphia	1–2	0–4	1–3	0–4	0–4	2–0	0–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–2	1–1	2–2	1–3	0–4	–	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–3
Phoenix	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1	1–3	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	–	2–2	2–2	1–3	0–4	2–0	1–3	4–0	2–0
Portland	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–0	4–0	0–2	3–1	2–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–0	0–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	–	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–0	1–3	2–2	0–2
Sacramento	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	4–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	–	1–3	0–4	2–0	0–4	2–2	0–2
San Antonio	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–2	4–0	0–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	3–1	–	2–2	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1
Seattle	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	0–2	4–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	4–0	2–2	–	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1
Toronto	0–4	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–4	2–0	0–2	1–2	2–2	1–1	2–2	0–4	1–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	–	0–2	1–1	3–1
Utah	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	4–0	1–3	1–3	2–0	–	4–0	1–1
Vancouver	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	0–4	–	0–2
Washington	3–1	2–2	1–3	0–4	1–3	2–0	1–1	2–1	1–1	1–1	0–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–2	1–3	0–4	3–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	—

Game log

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Loy Vaught	80	78	37.1	52.5	36.8	72.7	10.1	1.4	1.1	0.5	16.2
Bison Dele	65	65	33.2	54.3	16.7	73.4	7.6	1.9	1.1	0.8	15.8
Terry Dehere	82	10	24.6	45.9	44.0	75.5	1.7	4.3	0.7	0.2	12.4
Pooh Richardson	63	61	32.0	42.3	38.4	74.3	2.5	5.4	1.2	0.2	11.7
Rodney Rogers	67	51	29.1	47.7	32.0	62.8	4.3	2.5	1.1	0.5	11.6
Malik Sealy	62	48	25.8	41.5	21.0	79.9	3.9	1.9	1.4	0.5	11.5
Brent Barry	79	44	24.0	47.4	41.6	81.0	2.1	2.9	1.2	0.3	10.1
Lamond Murray	77	32	23.6	44.7	31.9	75.0	3.2	1.1	0.8	0.3	8.4
Stanley Roberts	51	7	15.6	46.4	0.0	55.6	3.2	0.8	0.3	0.8	7.0
Eric Piatkowski	65	1	12.1	40.5	33.3	81.7	1.6	0.7	0.4	0.2	4.6
Bo Outlaw	80	3	12.3	57.5	0.0	44.4	2.5	0.6	0.6	1.1	3.6
Antonio Harvey	37	9	11.1	34.1	0.0	45.0	2.9	0.2	0.4	0.7	2.9
Keith Tower	34	1	9.0	44.4	0.0	69.2	1.5	0.1	0.1	0.3	2.4
Logan Vander Velden	15	0	2.1	21.4	0.0	75.0	0.4	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.6

Player Statistics Citation:^[15]

Awards, records and milestones

Awards

• Forward/guard Brent Barry won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. He is the first Clipper to participate in and win the contest.

Week/Month

All-Star

• Aside from NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Brent Barry also played in The Rookie Game on the Western Conference Rookies team during NBA All Star Weekend.

Season

Records

Milestones

• Brent Barry is the only caucasian to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Transactions

The Clippers have been involved in the following transactions during the 1995–96 season.

Re-signed

Player	Signed	Contract
Bo Outlaw	October 4, 1995	Two-year deal

Trades

June 28, 1995	To Los Angeles Clippers Rodney Rogers & draft rights to Brent Barry	To Denver Nuggets Randy Woods & draft rights to Antonio McDyess
September 19, 1995	To Los Angeles Clippers Brian Williams	To Denver Nuggets Elmore Spencer

Free agents

Additions Player Signed Former team Logan Vander Velden October 1 Memphis Fire (USBL) Keith Tower October 4 Orlando Magic Antonio Harvey January 3 Vancouver Grizzlies

Subtractions Player Left New team Tony Massenburg expansion draft, June 24 Toronto Raptors Michael Smith released, September 19 Gijón Baloncesto (Liga ACB) Harold Ellis renounced, September 19 Aris BC (GBL) Gary Grant renounced, September 29 New York Knicks Eric Riley free agency, October 14 Minnesota Timberwolves Logan Vander Velden waived, January 4 Connecticut Pride (CBA)

Player Transactions Citation:^[32]

See also

• 1995-96 NBA season

References

1. 1995-96 Los Angeles Clippers
2. Diamos, Jason (May 22, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Warriors Win Something: First Pick in a Deep Draft". The New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
3. Baker, Chris (May 22, 1995). "Clippers Second in Lottery: NBA Draft: Warriors Get First Pick, But Fitch Says There's No Clear-Cut Top Choice This Year". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
4. Wise, Mike (June 29, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
5. Heisler, Mark (June 29, 1995). "NBA Is a Young Man's Game: Draft: Smith, McDyess, Stackhouse, Wallace and Garnett Lead the Way". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
6. "NBA DRAFT: Clippers Deal No. 2 McDyess to Nuggets: Pro Basketball: L.A. Gets Rodney Rogers and Rights to Oregon State's Brent Barry. O'Bannon Goes Ninth to New Jersey, and Zidek Is Selected No. 22 by Charlotte". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 29, 1995. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
7. Nakamura, David (June 29, 1995). "Joe Goes West as Warriors Make Smith No. 1 Pick". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
8. "1995 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
9. Baker, Chris (February 18, 1996). "Clippers Get Something to Smile About". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
10. "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
11. Baker, Chris (February 14, 1996). "Williams Thrives, But Clippers Dive". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
12. Baker, Chris (January 14, 1996). "Clipper Comeback Falls a Little Short". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
13. Baker, Chris (January 21, 1996). "Clippers Have Energy Crisis in Defeat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
14. "1995–96 Los Angeles Clippers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
15. "1995–96 Los Angeles Clippers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
16. Wise, Mike (February 11, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL: NOTEBOOK; The Clippers' Barry Hits the High Notes in His Jam Session". The New York Times. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
17. "Barry Soars Higher Than His Dad Ever Did". Deseret News. Associated Press. February 11, 1996. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
18. Frey, Jennifer (February 18, 1996). "Basketball's First Family". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
19. Woike, Dan (February 16, 2018). "Brent Barry, One of Three L.A.-Based Players to Win Slam Dunk Contest, Revisits 1996 Triumph". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
20. "1995–96 Regular Season Award Winners". Eskimo.com. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
21. "1995–96 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
22. Baker, Chris (July 17, 1996). "Williams Is Weighing Seven Offers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
23. Baker, Chris (September 28, 1996). "The Bucks Stop Here". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
24. Baker, Chris (November 8, 1996). "Williams' Offer Gets a Little Bigger". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
25. Baker, Chris (December 11, 1996). "Williams Watches Latest Loss". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
26. "Bulls Sign C-F Williams". United Press International. April 2, 1997. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
27. Baker, Chris (April 3, 1997). "Clippers' Loss Becomes Bulls' Gain". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
28. "Williams Signs with Chicago". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. April 3, 1997. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
29. Isaacson, Melissa (April 5, 1997). "Williams Jumps In Action a Little Too Early for the Bulls". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
30. "Clippers' Bit Player Helps Take the Bite Out of Grizzlies". The Washington Post. Associated Press. January 7, 1996. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
31. Baker, Chris (January 26, 1996). "Barry Leads Clippers in Prayer During and After 94-93 Victory". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
32. "1995–96 Los Angeles Clippers Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 14, 2021.