# 1985–86 Los Angeles Clippers season

The 1985-86 Los Angeles Clippers season was their 16th season in the NBA, their second in Los Angeles.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 3 | Benoit Benjamin | Center | United States | Creighton |
| 3 | 52 | Anicet Lavodrama | Forward | Central African Republic | Houston Baptist |
| 4 | 74 | Jim Deines | Center | United States France | Arizona State |
| 5 | 99 | Wayne Carlander | Forward | United States | USC |
| 6 | 121 | Malcolm Thomas | Forward | United States | Missouri |
| 7 | 143 | Gary Maloncon | Forward | United States | UCLA |

## Roster
### Roster Notes

* Forward Jamaal Wilkes becomes the 2nd Laker to play with the crosstown rival Clippers.
* Forward Rory White would later serve as an assistant coach for the Clippers under coach Mike Dunleavy Sr. from 2003 to 2008.

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 35–6 | 27–14 | 23–7 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 40 | 42 | .488 | 22 | 27–14 | 13–28 | 18–12 |
| Phoenix Suns | 32 | 50 | .390 | 30 | 23–18 | 9–32 | 16–14 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 32 | 50 | .390 | 30 | 22–19 | 10–31 | 10–20 |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 | 24–17 | 7–34 | 11–19 |
| Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 32 | 24–17 | 6–35 | 12–18 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Houston Rockets | 51 | 31 | .622 | 11 |
| 3 | x-Denver Nuggets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
| 4 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 5 | x-Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | .512 | 20 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 40 | 42 | .488 | 22 |
| 7 | x-Sacramento Kings | 37 | 45 | .451 | 25 |
| 8 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 35 | 47 | .427 | 27 |
| 9 | Phoenix Suns | 32 | 50 | .390 | 30 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Clippers | 32 | 50 | .390 | 30 |
| 11 | Seattle SuperSonics | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 12 | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 32 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1985-86 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 0–6 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 |
| Boston | 6–0 | – | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 1–5 | 1–5 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | – | 0–5 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–0 | – | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 1–5 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | – | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 0–5 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 4–2 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| New Jersey | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | – | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | – | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 1–4 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 6–0 | – | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Phoenix | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | – | 3–2 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | – | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 1–5 | – | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 3–2 | – | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | – | 1–1 |
| Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

### Game log
## Player statistics

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Benoit Benjamin | 79 | 37 | 26.4 | .490 | .333 | .746 | 7.6 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 11.1 |
| Junior Bridgeman | 58 | 14 | 20.0 | .441 | .333 | .891 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 8.8 |
| Wallace Bryant | 8 | 0 | 8.0 | .222 | .000 | .625 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.6 |
| Michael Cage | 78 | 12 | 20.1 | .479 | .000 | .649 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 6.7 |
| Jeff Cross | 21 | 0 | 6.1 | .250 | .000 | .560 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.2 |
| James Donaldson | 14 | 14 | 31.5 | .512 | .000 | .814 | 9.4 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 10.2 |
| Franklin Edwards | 73 | 19 | 20.4 | .454 | .111 | .874 | 1.2 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 9.0 |
| Lancaster Gordon | 60 | 1 | 11.7 | .377 | .250 | .804 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 5.2 |
| Marques Johnson | 75 | 75 | 34.7 | .510 | .067 | .760 | 5.5 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 20.3 |
| Ozell Jones | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cedric Maxwell | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jay Murphy | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Kurt Nimphius | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Norm Nixon | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Derek Smith | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jim Thomas | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darnell Valentine | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rory White | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Jamaal Wilkes | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Awards, records and milestones
### All-Star

Marques Johnson selected as a reserve forward for the Western Conference All-Stars. This would be his fifth and final All-Star Game appearance. With Norm Nixon chosen as an All-Star last year, this would make it the third time in franchise history that the team fielded a different player for back-to-back All-Star Games. The other two times were Bob Kauffman in 1973 then Bob McAdoo in 1974 and Bob McAdoo again in 1977 then Randy Smith in 1978.

## Transactions

The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1985–86 season.

### Trades

| September 6, 1985 | To Los Angeles Clippers Cedric Maxwell and 1986 first-round draft pick | To Boston Celtics Bill Walton |
| November 25, 1985 | To Los Angeles Clippers Kurt Nimphius | To Dallas Mavericks James Donaldson |
| January 14, 1986 | To Los Angeles Clippers Darnell Valentine | To Portland Trail Blazers 1986 first-round draft pick |