The upcoming season will be historic for the Los Angeles Clippers no matter what, as it will be the franchise's first season in its own brand-new home arena, the Ituit Dome.
The entire NBA, especially Clippers fans, are excitedly waiting to visit the arena and check out its world-class features, such as the Wall of Fans, the Halo Board, and the extra-spacious 17,700 seats and 120 restrooms.
The date of the team's first home game in the 2024-25 season - Oct. 23 - has been circled in the calendars and minds of Clippers fans. On that celebratory evening in the Intuit Dome, LA will welcome Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns, and a new era of Clippers basketball will launch.
One former LA player who appears to be ecstatic about the Intuit Dome is Baron Davis, who was the Clippers point guard from 2008 to 2011.
Davis sees the Intuit Dome as a chance for the Clippers to gain the recognition and identity that have eluded the franchise.
"They have an opportunity to better their brand now that they're going into the Intuit Dome and really establish themselves," said Davis.
Still a Lakers city, per Baron
Developing an identity would be a groundbreaking moment for the organization, as the Clippers have endured seasons as the second fiddle in the pro basketball landscape of the City of Angels, in the shadows of the LA Lakers.
In the last 25 years, the two LA teams have shared the Crypto.com Arena (then famously known as the Staples Center), though it always felt like the Lakers were the boss in the building and the Clippers were an afterthought.
Now, the Ballmers will finally boast of their own home court.
But for Baron Davis, that is not enough. Davis suggests that despite the fancy Intuit Dome, the Clippers will remain an afterthought in LA.
"They are always going to be number two," Davis said about the Clips' future status in LA basketball. "The Lakers are synonymous with L.A."
A significant step to create own history
Davis is right that the Clippers will likely continue to trail the Lakers in terms of popularity in the city.
But still, the Intuit Dome is a major step towards the Clippers creating a basketball history of their own outside the Lakers' humongous shadows.
With Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and a newly revamped supporting cast, the Clippers can potentially create an exciting squad in the 2024-25 campaign. With additional motivation created by playing in the new and fancy arena, the Clippers can become the surprising team of the season.
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