Lakers vs Clippers has never been the closest rivalry. Throughout the course of history, the Clippers have lived in the Lakers’ shadows. Still, there are plenty ofplayers that have played for the Clippers and Lakers at some point in their careers.
Historically, the Lakers have been one of the winningest, most profitable franchises in all sports. The Clippers, on the other hand, have constantly struggled to compete against other NBA teamsand are yet to win their first NBA championship.
A total of 42 players have suited up for the Clippers and Lakers. They’ve been great for one or both franchises, and some of them even helped their teams make the playoffs and win the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
So, today we’ve put together a list featuring the LA’s finest, the top 15 NBA players that played for the Lakers and Clippers, considering how they fared during their tenure with both of these franchises plus their resume overall.
15. Doug Christie
Christie was the 17th overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft. (Getty)
Doug Christie was originally drafted by the Seattle Supersonics but due to a contract breach, he had to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Like most rookies, he barely found any playing time and was eventually traded to the Knicks.
Christie broke out with the Raptors and Kingswhen he – ironically – antagonized the Lakers several times in the playoffs. He finished his career at age 36 with the Los Angeles Clippers, even though he only made 7 appearances.
14. Caron Butler
Butler was arrested several times before making it to the NBA. (Getty)
Basketball was Caron Butler’s way out of the streets and once he had the chance to prove his worth, he never looked back. His tenure with the Lakers was brief but he averaged over 15 points and developed a great rapport with Kobe Bryant.
Butler later took his game to a whole new level with the Washington Wizards, also playing for the Dallas Mavericks before having a two-year tenure with the Clippers. He eventually retired with the Kings in 2016.
13. Steve Blake
Blake was drafted in the 2nd round. (Getty)
It took him a while but eventually, Steve Blake found his place in the NBA: Los Angeles. He bounced around the league for a couple of seasons before a brief stint with the Clippers in 2010.
Blake later signed with the Los Angeles Lakers and became a reliable, consistent backup point guard. His three-point shooting and playmaking made him a fanfavorite in the Staples Center in no time.
12. Matt Barnes
Barnes won the NBA Championship in 2017 with the Warriors. (Getty)
Matt Barnes is the ultimate Californian. He struggled to find his place in the league with some non-guaranteed deals and spending a lot of time in the Development League until the Clippers gave him a chance in 2004.
Barnes then took his 3-and-D expertise all over the league before coming back to Los Angeles to play with the Lakers. He stayed there for a couple of seasons and later joined the Clippers again from 2012-15.
11. Nick Young
Young is currently a free agent. (Getty)
For most of his career, people really didn’t take Nick Young seriously. Up to this day, most people still know him for being a meme. But make no mistake, this guy can flat-out shoot the ball and score in bunches.
Young struggled to find his home in the league and didn’t find much success with the Los Angeles Clippers. Luckily for him, he broke out as a scorer during one of the Lakers’ darkest tenures. He later joined the Warriors and helped them win a ring.
10. Antawn Jamison
Jamison scored 20,042 career points. (Getty)
Ok, not many Lakers or Clippers fans will ever mention Antawn Jamison’s name when talking about their franchise’s all-time greats. Even so, his outstanding career in the league grants him a spot on this list.
Prime Jamison was a problem. He was a walking bucket and dominant rebounder that could take the best defenders in the league to school. He spent the final two years of his career in Los Angeles, first with the Lakers and then with the Clippers.
9. Sasha Vujacic
Vujacic was born in Maribor, Yugoslavia. (Getty)
Sasha Vujacic didn’t exactly hit you as an athletic or fast guy but, contrary to popular belief, he was pretty savvy and could contribute tomultiple aspects of the game. That’s what granted him such a long career in the league.
Vujacic’s golden years came with the Lakers and he even played a part on their back-to-back rings in 2009-10. He went back to Europe before making an NBA comeback with the Clippers in 2014 but only played two games.
8. Chris Kaman
Kaman was born in the USA but played for Germany. (Getty)
Chris Kaman entered the league as the 6th overall pick in 2003. The Clippers trusted him as their big man for the future and he lived up to the expectations, averaging nearly a double-double all seasons and even getting an All-Star nod.
Kaman then struggled to establish himself elsewhere in the league before going back to Los Angeles, this time with the Lakers. However, he was far from his prime and only made 39 appearances for the purple and gold.
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7. Jamaal Wilkes
Wilkes was the NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 1975. (Getty)
Jamaal Wilkes is one of Los Angeles’s biggest pride. He excelled at UCLA before taking his talents to the NBA. He played for the Warriors during the first three seasons of his career before joining the Lakers.
Wilkes played 8 seasons with the Lakers, winning 4 NBA Championships and he was one of the most beloved and respected members of the locker room. He retired after one season with the Lakers.
6. Jim McMillian
McMillian attended Columbia. (Getty)
Most young Lakers fans may not remember him but back in the day, Jim McMillian was a walking bucket. He averaged almost 20 points per game and helped the team win an NBA Championship during his 3-year tenure with them.
McMillian later took his talents to the East Side, joining the Buffalo Braves for another three years. As most of you may know by now, that Braves franchise would eventually become the Clippers.
5. Lou Williams
Williams was drafted out of high school. (Getty)
During the first couple of years of Lou William’s career, he didn’t strike out as something special. He wasn’t a pass-first point guard and was too small to play the shooting guard spot, so he wasn’t much of a factor.
He later broke out with the Toronto Raptors before also shining with the Lakers over three years. Now, he’s one of the Clippers’ locker room leaders and one of the greatest Sixth Men in the history of the game.
4. Ron Harper
Harper was the 8th overall pick in 1986. (Getty)
Most people don’t remember that Ron Harper was one of the best scorers in the league when he played for the Clippers, as he later joined the Chicago Bulls and helped them win 3 straight championships with his defense.
Harper would then reunited with Phil Jackson in the Los Angeles Lakers and helped them win a couple of more rings, this time with Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. He’s one of the winningest players of all time.
3. Swen Nater
Nater was a two-time ABA All-Star. (Getty)
Swen Nater was one of the best players in Clippers’ franchise history. He spent one year with the Buffalo Braves and then five with the San Diego Clippers, so he played a major role in their transition.
Nater even held the Clippers’franchise record for most rebounds in one seasonuntil DeAndre Jordan topped his 1,216 in 2015. He had a one-year tenure with the Lakers before retiring in Italy.
2. Lamar Odom
Odom retired in Spain. (Getty)
Lamar Odom’s history is as sad as it gets. There was a time when he was considered one of the deadliest, most talented combo forwards in the league, but his issues off the court almost took his life a couple of years ago.
Odom shined with the Lakers and helped them win back-to-back rings in 2009-10. However, he actually started his career with a 4-year tenure with the Clippers. He came back in 2012-13 for a season before taking his talents overseas.
1. Norm Nixon
Nixon scored12,065 career points. (Getty)
Oldschool Lakers fans love Norm Nixon and for good reason. He averaged 15.7 points, 8.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game over his career and helped the team win a couple of rings in the early-’80s.
Nixon spent six seasons with the Lakers before joining the San Diego / Los Angeles Clippers, where he made his 2nd All-Star game and continued to thrive towards the sunset of his career. He later retired withScavolini Pesaro in Italy.
