NBA

The strange connection shared by all current NBA teams in California

Something strange connects all current California NBA teams but very few people know that there is such a link between the Lakers, Clippers, Warriors and Kings. Check here what is going on.

LeBron James of the Lakers
© Getty ImagesLeBron James of the Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are the team with the most NBA Championships in California, they have 17 titles, one of the most recent being during the 2020 NBA Finals. On the other hand, the Golden State Warriors are the second team in the state with the most titles (7).

The state of California has four NBA teams, they all play in the Pacific Division, Warriors, Clippers, Lakers and Kings while the only team that plays within that division that does not belong to the state is the Phoenix Suns.

NBA Rumors: Podcaster Bill Simons reveals Zion Williamson future with the Pelicans

see also

Only the Lakers and Warriors have won the NBA Championship in the 21st century, but the Kings have not won a ring since the last century (1951) and the only one of the four Californian teams that does not have a ring are the Los Angeles Clippers.

Advertisement

What is the strange connection that all NBA teams in California share?

The ‘weird’ connection between all of the current NBA teams that play in the state of California is that they were originally from other states when they were founded and they played in other states before relocating to Calfornia.

1. The Los Angeles Lakers before playing in California were known as the Minneapolis Lakers from 1948 to 1960 and left Minneapolis due to poor fan attendance per season.

Advertisement
Video: Doctor explains why Victor Wembanyama is injury-prone

see also

2. Golden State Warriors originate from Philadelphia and in that city they were known as the Philadelphia Warriors from 1946 to 1962. The franchise left Philly since the new owner was from San Francisco.

3. The Los Angeles Clippers had a very different name than they have today, the Buffalo Braves, they played in New York from 1970 to 1978 when they were sold to Irv Levin of California. In 1978 they changed their name from the San Diego Clippers to the Los Angeles Clippers since their new owner, Donald Sterling, wanted the team in his city.

Advertisement

4. Sacramento Kings were also relocated due to poor fan attendance per season, they were born as the Kansas City Kings in 1975 and it wasn’t until 1985 that they moved to California and changed their name.

ALSO READ

NFL News: Tom Brady with a surprising and undeniably definitive choice for this year’s Super Bowl pick
NFL

NFL News: Tom Brady with a surprising and undeniably definitive choice for this year’s Super Bowl pick

The power stars of tennis: Top 25 highest-paid players of all time
Tennis

The power stars of tennis: Top 25 highest-paid players of all time

Curry, Kyrie Irving share a unique skill that sets them apart in NBA history, says Magic legend
NBA

Curry, Kyrie Irving share a unique skill that sets them apart in NBA history, says Magic legend

Rafael Nadal explains how Novak Djokovic has more titles than him and Roger Federer
Tennis

Rafael Nadal explains how Novak Djokovic has more titles than him and Roger Federer

Better Collective Logo