Since the Clippers were founded in 1970, they have never touched the floor of the finals.

On June 11, in the long history of the NBA, the Los Angeles Clippers are undoubtedly a team full of tragic colors. Since its founding in 1970, the team has never been able to get rid of the label of "loser", and has not even touched the floor of the finals, let alone picked up the O'Brien Cup. Even with Steve Ballmer, the wealthiest boss in the league, the Clippers still cannot break the shackles of fate and become one of the worst teams in NBA history. The predecessor of the Clippers was the Buffalo Braves and joined the NBA in 1970. In the first few years, the team's performance was mediocre, and it could even be described as bad. In 1978, the team moved to San Diego and was renamed the Clippers. However, this relocation did not bring good luck to the team, but instead opened a long trough. Throughout the 1980s, the Clippers almost became a laughing stock in the league, with poor record, chaotic management and serious player loss. In 1984, the team moved to Los Angeles again and became the Lakers' city rival. However, compared with the Lakers' glory, the Clippers have always lived under the shadow of the "Purple and Gold Legion".

Entering the 1990s, the Clippers still failed to get rid of the fate of the bottom team. Although he can occasionally make it to the playoffs, he is often eliminated in the first round. In 1997, the team selected talented power forward Elton Brand, which once gave people hope. Brand performed well during his time with the Clippers and even led the team to the Western Conference semi-finals in 2006, creating the best record in team history. However, this was just a flash in the pan, and the Clippers quickly returned to their mediocrity.

In 2011, the Clippers ushered in a turning point. The team got Chris Paul through the trade, and the joining of the top point guard completely changed the fate of the Clippers. Paul formed the famous "Air Connection City" combination with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, and the Clippers became the Western Conference powerhouse. However, despite its excellent regular season record, the Clippers have never been able to go further in the playoffs. Injuries, bad luck and a crash at critical moments have become lingering nightmares for this team. In the 2015 Western Conference Semi-Finals, the Clippers were reversed by the Rockets while leading 3-1, becoming one of the most famous "turnaround" cases in NBA history. In 2014, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer acquired the Clippers for $2 billion and became the team's new boss. Ballmer's entry has injected new vitality into the team. He not only invested heavily in improving the team's facilities, but also committed to building a team with championship competitiveness. However, despite Ballmer's financial resources, the Clippers are still unable to break through the bottleneck of the playoffs. In 2019, the team ushered in another major change, and obtained two superstars, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George through the trade. This operation made the Clippers instantly become a popular candidate for the championship.

However, fate always seems to be against the Clippers. In the 2020 playoffs, the Clippers were reversed again while leading the Nuggets 3-1 in the Western Conference semi-finals, and the combination of Leonard and George also failed to lead the team further. In 2021, the Clippers finally reached the Western Conference Finals, but Leonard's injury stopped the team here again. In 2022 and 2023, the Clippers still failed to break through the first round of the playoffs, and the injury problems of Leonard and George became the team's biggest trouble. In the 2024-2025 season, the Clippers once again adjusted the lineup, but the effect was still not satisfactory. Despite the return of Leonard and George healthy, the team suffered another setback in the playoffs. The Clippers' failure seems to have become a fate, and no matter how hard they try, they cannot get rid of the label of "the worst team". The tragedy of the Clippers is not only reflected in their performance, but also in the team's culture and history. Compared with the Lakers in the same city, the Clippers always lack the foundation of a championship and the gene to win. The Lakers have a brilliant history and numerous legendary stars, while the Clippers are always looking for their own identity. Even under Ballmer, the Clippers still cannot establish a culture that can attract top free agents.

In addition, the failure of the Clippers is also related to management instability. Over the years, the team's coaching staff and management have been frequently changed, resulting in the team lacking long-term planning and stability. Despite Ballmer's attempt to change this situation, the Clippers still failed to find the right direction.

Of course, the failure of the Clippers is also inseparable from luck. Whether it is the "Air Connection City" in the Paul era or the "dual-star combination" between Leonard and George, the Clippers always encounter injuries or other uncontrollable factors at critical moments. This "unlucky" attribute seems to have penetrated into the team's bones and become a curse that the Clippers cannot escape.

However, despite the history of the Clippers, their fans are still full of hope for the team. Clippers fans may be one of the most loyal groups in the NBA. They always believe that the team will one day break the curse and win the championship trophy. Perhaps, it is this spirit of never giving up that is the most precious asset of the Clippers.

In the future, can the Clippers break their destiny and realize their dream of winning? This question may only be answered in time. But anyway, the Clippers' story has become the most unique page in NBA history. Their failures and struggles, their hopes and persistence are all worth remembering. Perhaps, it is these failed experiences that make the Clippers' future more worth looking forward to.