In 2015, during the Clippers’ 31st season in Los Angeles, the team was still struggling to win over basketball fans in the city and across California, primarily due to the dominance of the LA Lakers and Golden State Warriors. However, things were looking promising for LA’s “other team” that season, thanks to Blake Griffin’s rising star.
The 6-foot-9 forward captivated audiences with his powerful dunks and innovative scoring, catching the attention of fans statewide, nationwide, and even globally. Griffin’s effective partnership with Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan—dubbed the Lob City era—put the Clippers in the spotlight and helped grow their fanbase. Still, even at home games in Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena), the Clippers lacked consistent fan support. To make matters worse, a noticeable number of attendees at Clippers’ home games were openly cheering for the opposing team. GRIFFIN FRUSTRATED: “HOMECOURT ADVANTAGE IS MISSING FOR US”
It reached a point where Griffin expressed his frustration. During a Clippers home game against the Warriors in the 2014-15 season, the crowd was more focused on the visiting team and its superstar. Fans at Staples Center couldn’t stop praising Stephen Curry, showering him with MVP chants at the free-throw line. While Curry did impress with 27 points on 8-of-15 shooting, Griffin outshined him, delivering a 40-point double-double on 64% shooting with three blocks. Watching the arena erupt in cheers for the Warriors’ star left Griffin feeling powerless. The six-time All-Star voiced his concerns after the game.