How To Collect | The Los Angeles Clippers

Cards From Buffalo to L.A.

It’s Lob City, the story of a franchise reinvigorated and making its own name in the City of Angels. From the Point God and Blake setting up for an All-World slam, all the way back to Bob McAdoo, the Los Angeles Clippers have had some great talent and stellar moments, and with a brand new state-of-the-art arena, they look to have a great future as well.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways to collect the Clippers.

Collecting the Clippers in 2025

A deep, experienced Clippers team retooled this summer and looks set to contend once again out west. Led by a former MVP and former Finals MVP, the team’s checklist gives collectors a great opportunity to expand their collection.

Kawhi Leonard gets his first-ever licensed NBA Topps cards in 2025-26 Topps Basketball, and chase cards include a Player Number Variation numbered to two copies. Kawhi inserts include The Daily Dribble, 1980/81, Levitation, and Stars of the NBA. 

James Harden has base, parallel, variation, auto, and relic cards, as well as combo cards. Harden’s Flagship Real One Auto and Relic cards intrigue, as do his MVP Vault and Comic Court offerings. Additionally, Harden is part of the Fanatics Authentic Redemption in 2025-26 Topps Basketball. Ivica Zubac has emerged as a force in the post for Los Angeles and has chase-worthy parallel and variation cards as well.

Elite athlete Yanic Konan-Niederhäuser is the Clippers rookie to chase this season. He appears in rookie-centric inserts like No Limit, Generation Now, and New Applicants Autographs. Other autos include 1980/81 Topps Basketball and Rookie Photo Shoot Autographs. The big man also has a Franchise Fabrics relic card on offer.

Two future Hall-of-Famers, a big man on the rise, and an exciting rookie prospect give Clippers collectors some great options in 2025-26 Topps Basketball. Other notable names to chase include Nicolas Batum and Derrick Jones Jr. 

Clippers Mount Rushmore

Our Clippers Mount Rushmore pulls heavily from the Lob City days, while also paying tribute to two Clippers greats of the past.

2005 Topps Chrome Basketball #168 Chris Paul Blue X-Fractor /90

2009 Topps Chrome Basketball #96 Blake Griffin RC Gold Refractor /50

1973 Topps Basketball #135 Bob McAdoo RC 

1976 Topps Basketball #40 Randy Smith

Lob City 

Blake Griffin’s Rookie of the Year campaign in 2010/11 gave fans hope that the Clippers could finally break into the league’s upper crust. When Chris Paul joined for the following season, L.A. began a stretch of six straight postseasons. Finally, the Clippers had broken through, after an 18-year run that included only two postseasons.

Not only were the Clippers for real, with Paul and Griffin joined by dunk machine DeAndre Jordan, but they were appointment viewing, and one of the most popular teams in the league. All three of these former All-Stars are mission critical when it comes to building a collection of the Clippers and their newfound and consistent place as true contenders. Griffin’s 2007 McDonald’s All-American card is a fun addition, celebrating a top overall draft pick who excelled in L.A.

Few players have controlled the game like Chris Paul, unquestionably one of the best pure point guards we’ve ever seen. A 12-time All-Star and 11-time All-League selection, Paul ranks second in all-time assists. He dragged the Clippers into contention, and Lob City redefined the team and its relationship to the city of Los Angeles. Today, it’s no surprise to see a star sign up with the Clippers. Lob City is a huge reason why.

In 2014, the Clippers won the Pacific Division and took on the soon-to-be-dynastic Golden State Warriors in an epic seven-game series. The next year, Paul and Co. took out defending champion San Antonio in another classic postseason battle. While Lob City didn’t win a ring, the era changed Clippers basketball forever.

While Paul’s 1-of-1 2008 Topps Chrome SuperFractor is the biggest sale of a Point God Topps card, the most consistently coveted and valuable remains his 2005 Topps Chrome RC, seen above, which has sold for as much as $10,000. For Clippers fans, the news that Paul was coming back in 2025 for one last dance with the Clippers became one more great reason to chase the franchise legend. 

This time, Paul joins a team that’s been helmed most recently by former Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and former MVP James Harden. Both of these superstars are also worthy additions to any Clippers team collection, as is former spotlight Clipper star Paul George.

A Brief Breakthrough

An exciting Clippers group in 2005/06 energized the fanbase, winning the franchise’s first playoff series since the team was in Buffalo in 1976.

Led by former top draft pick Elton Brand, L.A. handled the Nuggets in five before falling in a fantastic seven-game tilt with the Seven-Seconds-or-Less Suns led by another All-World point guard, two-time MVP Steve Nash.

Brand was flanked by hyper-athletic wing Corey Maggette and veteran point guard Sam Cassell, who would go on to serve as an assistant coach with the team for over half a decade. All three of these Clippers make for great additions to any team collection.

Bob the Bucket

For some vintage flavor, Clippers collectors can find any number of Topps offerings from the franchise’s past eras in San Diego and Buffalo. From 1972-76, Buffalo was home to Hall-of-Famer and 75th Anniversary team member Bob McAdoo, who put together one of the best starts to a career ever seen. He kicked things off with the 1973 Rookie of the Year Award, before going supernova — one MVP and two MVP runner-ups while winning three straight scoring titles from 1974-76, peaking at a ridiculous 34.5 PPG in a 1974/75. 

A big with a smooth jumper, as well as the speed, agility, and accuracy to play away from the basket, he was unguardable almost from the minute he entered the league. McAdoo’s most coveted card is undoubtedly his 1973 Topps Basketball RC. A rare PSA 10, of which there are only five, sold for $43,920 in February of 2025.

Capturing History Your Way

While the Clippers have yet to win a title, the modern era has been one of high-flying excitement and consistent competitiveness. With multiple eras of big stars and playoff escapades, there are a ton of options for fans and collectors to tell the story of the Los Angeles Clippers. 

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