Los Angeles Clippers: Top five point guards in franchise history

4. Ernie DiGregorio

In a lot of ways, Ernie DiGregorio is a pioneer for the Los Angeles Clippers and was the first really talented player to suit up for the organization. DiGregorio only had a five-year career in the NBA, but his lasting effects on the Clippers should be felt. The point guard was a member of the then-Buffalo Braves for four and a half seasons from 1973 to 1978, very early in the franchise’s history.

DiGregorio was selected in the first round of the 1973 NBA draft by the Braves and he did not disappoint. The third-overall selection averaged 15.2 points, 8.2 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game in route to becoming the NBA Rookie of the Year. That season, DiGregorio also made the All-Rookie First Team as being the league leader in assists.

However, DiGregorio did start to fizzle out as his career went along. DiGregorio missed a combined 64 games over the next two seasons, averaging just 7.8 and 6.7 points in each of the two years. This became a shell of the man who dropped 25 assists to set the single-game rookie assists record, which still stands today.

If DiGregorio could have lived up to his potential, stayed healthy and gave the Clippers a long-lasting career he easily could be number one on this list and one of the best of all-time. DiGregorio was a sensation in the mid-’70s, however, now he is the big case of what-if. On the bright side, DiGregorio was elected to the National Italian American Hall of Fame in 1999.