NBA G-League | 12/21 01:30 | - | Maine Celtics v Ontario Clippers | W | 112-124 | |
NBA G-League | 12/20 00:30 | - | Iowa Wolves v Ontario Clippers | W | 95-117 |
The San Diego Clippers are a professional basketball team based in San Diego County, California, that competes in the NBA G League. The team plays its home games at Frontwave Arena. The Clippers began play in the 2017–18 season. The team is an affiliate of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s Los Angeles Clippers.
From 2009 to 2014, the L.A. Clippers had been affiliated with the former Bakersfield Jam (now the Motor City Cruise) before the Jam switched to a single affiliation with the Phoenix Suns. In December 2015, Doc Rivers, head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, mentioned the need for the Clippers to own an NBA Development League team.
In April 2017, the Clippers were reported to be looking to add a minor league affiliate in the NBA Development League either in nearby Ontario or Bakersfield for the 2017–18 season. In May 2017, the Clippers reportedly had settled on the Ontario location; possibly calling the team the Agua Caliente Clippers. On May 15, the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario were announced and the team played at Citizens Business Bank Arena. The team was named after the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, a federally recognized tribe with resorts and casinos in Palm Springs and were the presenting sponsor of the Clippers.
In 2021, Paul Hewitt was named the team's head coach. In the 2021–22 season, the Clippers appeared in the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
On July 5, 2022, the team officially changed their name to the Ontario Clippers.
On December 22, 2022, the Clippers defeated the Windy City Bulls 99–97 to win the 2022 NBA G League Winter Showcase Cup.
On March 11, 2024, it was announced the Clippers would be relocating to the San Diego County city of Oceanside, rebranding as the San Diego Clippers, using its NBA affiliate's former identity from 1978 to 1984. The announcement was made at Frontwave Arena, a 7,500 capacity venue that serves as the team's new home arena.
Since moving to San Diego, the Clippers joined Halo Sports & Entertainment, Steve Ballmer's umbrella brand that also encompasses the Los Angeles Clippers, Intuit Dome, and the Kia Forum.