# 1991–92 Los Angeles Clippers season

The 1991–92 NBA season was the Clippers' 22nd season in the National Basketball Association, and their 8th season in Los Angeles. During the off-season, the Clippers acquired Doc Rivers from the Atlanta Hawks, and James Edwards from the Detroit Pistons. The Clippers, led by Danny Manning and Ron Harper, won five of their first seven games. They would lose six straight afterwards, but then post an 8-game winning streak in December which led them to a 14–10 start. However, they would struggle over the next few weeks sliding back below .500 with a 21–24 record as head coach Mike Schuler was fired. After splitting two games under interim Mack Calvin, and holding a 22–25 record at the All-Star break, the team hired Larry Brown, who resigned as coach of the San Antonio Spurs a few weeks earlier.
Under Brown, the Clippers won 23 of their final 35 games to finish fifth in the Pacific Division with a 45–37 record. Making their first playoff appearance since the 1975–76 season when they were known as the Buffalo Braves, and ending a fifteen-year playoff drought. This season was also their first to finish with a winning record since 1978-79. This season also marked the first time that the Clippers finished with a better record than their crosstown rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, who finished two games behind them with a 43–39 record.
Manning averaged 19.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, while Harper averaged 18.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game, and Charles D. Smith provided the team with 14.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, but only played just 49 games due to a knee injury. In addition, Ken Norman averaged 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while Rivers contributed 10.9 points, 3.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game, Olden Polynice provided with 8.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, and Gary Grant contributed 7.8 points, 6.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Edwards averaged 9.7 points per game off the bench, and second-year forward Loy Vaught provided with 7.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Brown finished in fourth place in Coach of the Year voting.
However, in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Clippers lost in five games to the Utah Jazz. Following the season, Smith, Rivers and second-year guard Bo Kimble were all traded to the New York Knicks, while Edwards signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Polynice was dealt to the Detroit Pistons.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 22 | LeRon Ellis | C/PF | United States | Syracuse |
| 2 | 37 | Elliot Perry | PG | United States | Memphis |
| 2 | 38 | Joe Wylie | PF | United States | Miami (FL) |

## Roster
### Roster notes

* Forward Tony Brown became the 5th former Laker to play with the crosstown rival Clippers. He would later serve as an assistant coach for the team under coaches Mike Dunleavy, Sr. and Kim Hughes from 2008 to 2010
* This is point guard David Rivers's second tour of duty with the franchise. He previously played for the team in 1989–1990.

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Portland Trail Blazers | 57 | 25 | .695 | — | 33–8 | 24–17 | 21–9 |
| x-Golden State Warriors | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2 | 31–10 | 24–17 | 19–11 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 53 | 29 | .646 | 4 | 36–5 | 17–24 | 17–13 |
| x-Seattle SuperSonics | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 | 28–13 | 19–22 | 16–14 |
| x-Los Angeles Clippers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 | 29–12 | 16–25 | 13–17 |
| x-Los Angeles Lakers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 14 | 24–17 | 19–22 | 13–17 |
| Sacramento Kings | 29 | 53 | .354 | 28 | 21–20 | 8–33 | 6–24 |
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Portland Trail Blazers | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
| 2 | y-Utah Jazz | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2 |
| 3 | x-Golden State Warriors | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Phoenix Suns | 53 | 29 | .646 | 4 |
| 5 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 |
| 6 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 |
| 7 | x-Los Angeles Clippers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 |
| 8 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 14 |
| 9 | Houston Rockets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 15 |
| 10 | Sacramento Kings | 29 | 53 | .354 | 28 |
| 11 | Denver Nuggets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 33 |
| 12 | Dallas Mavericks | 22 | 60 | .268 | 35 |
| 13 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 15 | 67 | .183 | 42 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1991-92 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 | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 1–3 | – | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Charlotte | 2–2 | 1–3 | – | 0–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Chicago | 5–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | – | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Cleveland | 5–0 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 2–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | – | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | – | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 4–1 | 0–4 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | – | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Houston | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | – | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| L.A. Clippers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | – | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 2–2 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 |
| Milwaukee | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | – | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Minnesota | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–6 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| New Jersey | 1–3 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | – | 2–3 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 |
| New York | 2–2 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | – | 4–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Orlando | 2–2 | 0–5 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–4 | – | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 2–3 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–0 |
| Phoenix | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | – | 5–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Sacramento | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–5 | – | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | – | 3–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 1–3 | – | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1–3 | – | 2–0 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–4 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |

### Game log
## Playoffs

1992 playoff game log :
First round: 2–3 (home: 2–0; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 24
@ Utah
L 97–115
Doc Rivers (23)
Charles Smith (9)
Doc Rivers (5)
Delta Center 19,911
0–1
2
April 26
@ Utah
L 92–103
Danny Manning (22)
Ken Norman (14)
Doc Rivers (6)
Delta Center 19,911
0–2
3
April 28
Utah
W 98–88
Danny Manning (17)
Ron Harper (12)
three players tied (5)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 14,086
1–2
4
May 3
Utah
W 115–107
Danny Manning (33)
Danny Manning (10)
Norman, Grant (6)
Anaheim Convention Center 7,148
2–2
5
May 4
@ Utah
L 89–98
Danny Manning (24)
Ken Norman (10)
Ron Harper (7)
Delta Center 19,911
2–3 :
1992 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Tony Brown | 22 | 0 | 11.5 | .438 | .318 | .621 | 1.3 | .7 | .5 | .0 | 4.7 |
| Lanard Copeland | 10 | 0 | 4.8 | .304 | .000 | 1.000 | .7 | .5 | .2 | .0 | 1.6 |
| James Edwards | 72 | 11 | 20.0 | .465 | .000 | .731 | 2.8 | .7 | .3 | .5 | 9.7 |
| LeRon Ellis | 29 | 0 | 3.6 | .340 | — | .474 | .8 | .0 | .2 | .3 | 1.5 |
| Gary Grant | 78 | 53 | 26.3 | .462 | .294 | .815 | 2.4 | 6.9 | 1.8 | .2 | 7.8 |
| Ron Harper | 82 | 82 | 38.3 | .440 | .303 | .736 | 5.5 | 5.1 | 1.9 | .9 | 18.2 |
| Bo Kimble | 34 | 0 | 8.1 | .396 | .308 | .645 | .9 | .5 | .3 | .2 | 3.3 |
| Danny Manning | 82 | 82 | 35.4 | .542 | .000 | .725 | 6.9 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 19.3 |
| Tharon Mayes | 3 | 0 | 13.3 | .400 | .500 | .667 | .3 | 1.0 | .7 | .3 | 3.0 |
| Ken Norman | 77 | 24 | 26.1 | .490 | .143 | .535 | 5.8 | 1.6 | .7 | .9 | 12.1 |
| Elliot Perry | 10 | 0 | 6.6 | .400 | .000 | .500 | .7 | 1.4 | .9 | .1 | 1.3 |
| Olden Polynice | 76 | 65 | 24.1 | .519 | .000 | .622 | 7.1 | .6 | .6 | .3 | 8.1 |
| David Rivers | 15 | 0 | 8.1 | .333 | .000 | .909 | 1.3 | 1.4 | .5 | .1 | 2.0 |
| Doc Rivers | 59 | 25 | 28.1 | .424 | .283 | .832 | 2.5 | 3.9 | 1.9 | .3 | 10.9 |
| Charles Smith | 49 | 25 | 26.7 | .466 | .000 | .785 | 6.1 | 1.1 | .8 | 2.0 | 14.6 |
| Loy Vaught | 79 | 38 | 21.4 | .492 | .800 | .797 | 6.5 | .9 | .5 | .4 | 7.6 |
| Danny Young | 44 | 5 | 20.2 | .391 | .333 | .887 | 1.5 | 3.5 | .9 | .1 | 5.3 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| James Edwards | 5 | 0 | 17.4 | .417 | — | .632 | 2.6 | .6 | .2 | .2 | 6.4 |
| LeRon Ellis | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | — | — | — | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
| Gary Grant | 5 | 1 | 15.4 | .476 | .000 | 1.000 | .8 | 3.6 | .6 | .4 | 4.4 |
| Ron Harper | 5 | 5 | 41.2 | .448 | .111 | .786 | 6.4 | 4.6 | 1.0 | .8 | 18.0 |
| Bo Kimble | 3 | 0 | 1.7 | .000 | — | — | .0 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
| Danny Manning | 5 | 5 | 38.8 | .568 | .333 | .645 | 5.6 | 2.8 | 1.0 | .8 | 22.6 |
| Ken Norman | 5 | 5 | 36.8 | .509 | .000 | .529 | 9.8 | 3.0 | .8 | .6 | 12.6 |
| Olden Polynice | 5 | 0 | 12.6 | .583 | — | .333 | 3.4 | .6 | .2 | .2 | 3.2 |
| Doc Rivers | 5 | 4 | 37.4 | .446 | .500 | .815 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 1.2 | .0 | 15.2 |
| Charles Smith | 5 | 5 | 29.6 | .393 | — | .933 | 5.6 | 1.8 | .8 | 2.4 | 11.6 |
| Loy Vaught | 5 | 0 | 7.2 | .636 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 2.4 | .8 | .2 | .2 | 3.4 |
| Danny Young | 3 | 0 | 3.7 | .500 | .000 | — | .0 | .3 | .0 | .0 | 1.3 |

## Transactions

The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1991–92 season.

### Trades

| June 26, 1991 | To Los Angeles Clippers Doc Rivers | To Atlanta Hawks 1991 first-round draft pick & 1993 and 1994 second-round draft picks |
| June 26, 1991 | To Los Angeles Clippers 1996 or 1997 second-round draft pick | To Denver Nuggets Winston Garland |
| September 22, 1991 | To Los Angeles Clippers James Edwards | To Detroit Pistons Jeff Martin & 1995 second-round draft pick |

### Free agents

Player Transactions Citation: