Clipper Unveil Buffalo Braves Throwback Jerseys

Wheeewwwwww.

These jerseys are FIRE.

After a lot of speculation, the Clippers dropped their Buffalo Braves throwback jerseys today, and the result does not disappoint:

The Buffalo Braves were an active NBA team from 1970-78, when then-Celtics owner Irv Levin wanted to move to the West coast but couldn’t justify taking a franchise with the Celtic’s history out of Boston. Levin traded franchises with then-Braves owner John Y. Brown, Jr., and subsequently brought the Braves to San Diego to become the San Diego Clippers. In 1984, the Clippers moved to L.A., where they still reside.

The Braves debuted in 1970, meaning that the Clippers will celebrate 50 years of franchise history in 2020. It’s unclear at this point what the Clippers have planned for their anniversary. Technically, the 1970-71 season was the Braves’ first active year, so the Clippers might save anniversary celebrations for the 2020-21 season next year.

In 8 years of existence, the Buffalo Braves won 3(!) rookie of the year awards, including Bob McAdoo, who is still one of the better players in franchise history.

In total, the Braves went just 259-397 in their eight active seasons, but they did make three consecutive playoff appearances from 1975-77, the first two of which were under Jack Ramsay, who then went on to coach the Trail Blazers to the 1977 NBA Championship.

The Braves also secured the first playoff series victory in franchise history in 1977, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 2-1 in a best-of-3 first-round series.

In the mid-2000s, the Sam Cassell-Elton Brand Clippers wore the orange version of the Braves throwback, so it’s pretty gratifying for long-time Clippers fans to see the Braves scheme return with the white base. The Clippers and Nike did an excellent job with this design. Pre-orders are available for Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, Patrick Beverley, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard.