The San Diego Clippers are back — sort of.
On Monday, the Los Angeles Clippers organization announced it would be moving its G League team from Ontario to San Diego for the upcoming season.
San Diego was home to the NBA Clippers from 1978 to 1984 before then-owner Donald Sterling made the controversial decision to move the team north.
The San Diego Clippers will be playing the 2024-25 G League season in the brand new Frontwave Arena in Oceanside.
Gillian Zucker, CEO of Halo Sports and Entertainment, which includes the Los Angeles Clippers, the San Diego Clippers, the Intuit Dome and the Kia Forum, was one of the speakers during Monday’s press event in Oceanside and helped unveil the team’s new logo.
“We are proud to re-introduce the San Diego Clippers into this passionate sports market,” Zucker said. “Our G League team is a critical part of our business and basketball operation, and we are thrilled to be relocating to the new Frontwave Arena next season.”
Frontwave Arena is a 7,500-capacity venue that is currently under construction in Oceanside. In addition the G League games, the arena will also host concerts, comedy shows, community events and indoor soccer games played by the San Diego Sockers of the Major Arena Soccer League. The arena is expected to open this summer.
Josh Elias, co-founder and CEO of Frontwave Arena, said he was excited to partner with Zucker and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer to show off the capabilities of the new venue and welcome the Clippers back to San Diego.
The Ontario Clippers will complete the remainder of the 2023-24 G League season in San Bernardino County before making the move south. The team is 13-13 on the season and currently sit at 11th in the G League’s Western Conference.
The NBA G League is a developmental league that operates under the umbrella of its major league affiliates. The NBA allows teams to have three players under contract that can play in both NBA and G League games. Teams can also assign players on full NBA contracts down to the G League for extra practice time or to rehab injuries.
“It’s been in Ohio as early as the mid-1850s at least, brought in as an ornamental plant because of its unique foliage and white flowers,” Gardner said. “It was actually planted in people’s landscaping, and it has been spreading.”
Twelve of the 18 players on the Los Angeles Clippers roster have played in the G League during their careers.
San Diego Clippers merchandise is available for a limited time online.