# 1981–82 San Diego Clippers season

The 1981–82 NBA season was the Clippers' 12th season in the NBA and their fourth season in the city of San Diego.
Donald Sterling took over control of the franchise during this season, beginning what would be a 33-year stewardship.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 8 | Tom Chambers | Forward | United States | Utah |
| 3 | 54 | Jim Smith | Forward | United States | Ohio State |
| 4 | 77 | Lee Raker | Guard | United States | Virginia |
| 5 | 100 | Dennis Isbell | Forward | United States | Memphis State |
| 6 | 123 | Mike Pepper | Guard | United States | North Carolina |
| 7 | 146 | Randy Johnson | Guard | United States | Southern Colorado |
| 8 | 168 | Todd Haynes | Forward | United States | Davidson |
| 9 | 190 | Art Jones | Forward | United States | North Carolina State |
| 10 | 210 | Tony Gwynn | Guard | United States | San Diego State |

## Roster
### Roster Notes

* Center Bill Walton missed the entire season again due to another left foot injury.
* This is Jerome Whitehead's second tour of duty with the Clippers. He previously played with the team during the 1978–79 season.
* Guard Armond Hill later became an assistant coach with the franchise from 2013 to 2020.

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 30–11 | 27–14 | 21–9 |
| x-Seattle SuperSonics | 52 | 30 | .634 | 5.0 | 31–10 | 21–20 | 18–12 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 46 | 36 | .561 | 11.0 | 31–10 | 15–26 | 14–16 |
| Golden State Warriors | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12.0 | 28–13 | 17–24 | 15–15 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 15.0 | 27–14 | 15–26 | 15–15 |
| San Diego Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 40.0 | 11–30 | 6–35 | 7–23 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
| 2 | y-San Antonio Spurs | 48 | 34 | .585 | 9 |
| 3 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 52 | 30 | .634 | 5 |
| 4 | x-Denver Nuggets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 11 |
| 5 | x-Phoenix Suns | 46 | 36 | .561 | 11 |
| 6 | x-Houston Rockets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 11 |
| 7 | Golden State Warriors | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 |
| 8 | Portland Trail Blazers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 15 |
| 9 | Kansas City Kings | 30 | 52 | .366 | 27 |
| 10 | Dallas Mavericks | 28 | 54 | .341 | 29 |
| 11 | Utah Jazz | 25 | 57 | .305 | 32 |
| 12 | San Diego Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 40 |
Notes
* z, y – division champions
* x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1981-82 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| Boston | 5–1 | — | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 |
| Chicago | 3–2 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 0–5 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 0–6 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 |
| Kansas City | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 4–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| New Jersey | 2–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | — | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | — | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | — | 5–0 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–5 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 4–2 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

### Game log
## Player statistics

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Jim Brogan | 63 | 19 | 16.3 | .453 | .281 | .726 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 6.3 |
| Michael Brooks | 82 | 73 | 33.5 | .504 | .000 | .757 | 7.6 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 15.6 |
| Joe Bryant | 75 | 49 | 26.5 | .486 | .267 | .785 | 3.7 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 11.8 |
| Tom Chambers | 81 | 58 | 33.1 | .525 | .000 | .620 | 6.9 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 17.2 |
| Charlie Criss | 28 | 20 | 30.0 | .479 | .381 | .884 | 1.6 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 12.9 |
| Ron Davis | 7 | 0 | 9.6 | .400 | | .500 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.3 |
| John Douglas | 64 | 9 | 16.1 | .465 | .305 | .657 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 7.0 |
| Armond Hill | 19 | 14 | 25.3 | .382 | .000 | .688 | 1.4 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 4.7 |
| Rock Lee | 2 | 0 | 5.0 | .500 | | .000 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| Swen Nater | 21 | 7 | 27.4 | .577 | 1.000 | .747 | 9.1 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 12.5 |
| Jim Smith | 72 | 3 | 11.9 | .509 | | .459 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 2.9 |
| Phil Smith | 48 | 39 | 30.1 | .440 | .208 | .732 | 2.4 | 4.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 13.2 |
| Brian Taylor | 41 | 40 | 31.1 | .503 | .365 | .818 | 2.3 | 5.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 10.8 |
| Jerome Whitehead | 72 | 63 | 30.8 | .559 | | .763 | 9.2 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 13.8 |
| Michael Wiley | 61 | 1 | 16.6 | .565 | .000 | .695 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 8.3 |
| Freeman Williams | 37 | 10 | 21.8 | .456 | .324 | .843 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 16.5 |
| Al Wood | 29 | 5 | 23.9 | .518 | .167 | .802 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 12.5 |

## Transactions

The Clippers were involved in the following transactions during the 1981–82 season.

### Trades

| January 20, 1982 | To San Diego Clippers Al Wood & Charlie Criss | To Atlanta Hawks Freeman Williams |
| February 16, 1982 | To San Diego Clippers Armond Hill, 1982 second-round draft pick & cash | To Seattle SuperSonics Phil Smith |

### Free agents

Additions
PlayerSignedFormer team
Jim Brogan
8/31/81
Atlantic City Hi-Rollers
John Douglas
9/4/81
Montana Golden Nuggets
Michael Wiley
12/2/81
San Antonio Spurs
Rock Lee
4/11/82
San Diego Clippers
Subtractions
PlayerLeftNew team
Wally Rank
7/28/81
Sacramora Rimini
Rock Lee
10/20/81
Ron Davis
11/30/81 :