WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BUFFALO BRAVES? // RELOCATED: A BUFFALO BRAVES HIGHLIGHTS & HISTORY DOCUMENTARY

In this All Sports History video we'll look back at what happened to the Buffalo Braves basketball team when it came into existence in the early 1970's and left town after only eight years.
Here's what this "Buffalo Braves Documentary" video covers:
In the early 1970’s, the Buffalo Braves NBA were a part of an exciting time in Buffalo’s growing sports scene. So what exactly happened to the Braves that resulted in the team packing up and moving to the west coast after only eight seasons? In today’s video we’ll take a look back to how the Braves constant fight with their own home arena over scheduling led to the ownership allegedly sabotaging their own roster to force a relocation.
The Buffalo Braves were founded as an expansion club in 1969, but didn't start play until the following year. The first Buffalo Braves full game took place against fellow expansion club the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 14, 1971. They originally wore gold, orange, blue, and black as part of the Buffalo Braves jersey. However, the eventually changed to just orange and black, and then later settled on Columbia blue and black as their primary colors. The early years were unremarkable, but their luck soon changed after drafting future hall of fame player Bob McAdoo Buffalo Braves. He would go onto win rookie of the year, and later the league's MVP award, while leading the Braves make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. With the help of of Randy Smith Buffalo Braves clinched their first playoff spot in 1974. The first Buffalo Braves playoffs match up was the Buffalo Braves vs Boston Celtics. They'd eventually lose to the Celtics in six games, and would struggle to make it past the first round in the playoffs the following two seasons. The 1976 Buffalo Braves would also meet the Celtics again in the playoffs, and once again were defeated by Boston in six games. This marked the last time the Braves would make the playoffs in their time in Buffalo.
The 1977 Buffalo Braves would see great change coming to the franchise, the team would move on from their head coach Dr. Jack Ramsay and would trade away their star player Bob McAdoo. The situation around the team's home arena, the Buffalo Auditorium, made life difficult for the Brave's owner Paul Snyder. The Braves were routinely the third wheel when it came to scheduling home dates for the Buffalo Aud. By 1977 Snyder had grown past frustration with the situation and sold the team to new owners, who proceeded to dismantle the team in the hope of forcing a relocation away from the Aud. At this time, a unique idea was proposed by David Stern, who suggested that the Boston Celtics owner, Irv Levin and the Braves owners swap franchises. Levin, had long wanted to move back to California, but knew the NBA would never allow him to relocate the Celtics. Now he'd be free to move the Braves to California with the NBA's blessing.
The Buffalo Braves last game took place on April 9, 1978 coincidentally against the Boston Celtics. During the off season that year, the NBA owners approved of the Braves move to San Diego for the following season. After the move to California, the team held a naming contest to rebrand the franchise, and the name "San Diego Clippers" won as a nod to the large sailing ships that often sailed through San Diego's harbor. Now in San Diego, the team's fortunes didn't turn for the better, as the club often finished at or near the bottom of the division. By the early 80's, Levin was ready to sell the Clippers and found a buyer in real estate mogul Donald Sterling. Sterling almost immediately became a thorn in the NBA's side after he tried to force a relocation of the team to Los Angeles in 1982. His efforts failed after an investigation into his ownership revealed that he was late paying players and owed money to creditors. He was able to hold on to his ownership through some forced management changes, thanks to David Stern. However, Sterling once again tried to force a move to LA in 1984, siting Al Davis' move to LA with the Raiders in the NFL. The NBA realized this time that they'd have little legal recourse to stop Sterling, so they in turn made a deal with him to allow the move to LA so long as he dropped his lawsuit with the league. Sterling would go on to own the Clippers for the next 30 years, until he received the distinction of a lifetime ban from the NBA in 2014 after racist remarks he made surfaced that year.
The Buffalo Braves highlights as franchise stretch over a fifty year span now, and is a testament to the enduring resilience of the Clippers and Buffalo Braves history.
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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BUFFALO BRAVES? // RELOCATED: A BUFFALO BRAVES HIGHLIGHTS & HISTORY DOCUMENTARY

[@davidalexander8996]

Buffalo would have gotten an MLB team around the same time as the Braves and Sabres if the Montreal Expos (now Washington Nationals) had not been so resilient in getting Jarry Park ready in time for 1969. Buffalo only had an MLB team on a temporary basis when the Toronto Blue Jays had to relocate during the pandemic. The Bills future should be rock solid for at least a generation with their new stadium under construction. Moving to the west coast has not broken the Braves turned Clippers curse; they are the oldest NBA franchise to never win a title, or even play in the finals for that matter.

[@jkmaster345]

So glad he’s back i was watching all this dude’s old videos lets go

[@AllSportsHistory]

haha thank you for watching!

[@clydereid2976]

I loved the Buffalo Braves growing. They were a good team. Exciting to watch.

[@user-qv3wb2gy1f]

You know what l'd like to see, N.B.A. team in Pgh. (Pittsburgh), Penna. g'vng "Keystone State" (where l reside in) llnd N.B.A. team. I feel that just one lone Penna.-based N.B.A. team in '76ers from Phila. isn't enough, l think it's time for cross-state Pgh. (Pittsburgh), "Iron City" to get llnd Penna.-based N.B.A. team, although it's doubtful right now that that'll happen soon

[@christopherdonaldson8231]

Love the first head coach Dolph Schayes! DeWitt Clinton High School alum in the Bronx! At the time an all-boys high school until it became co-ed in the early 1980s

[@wyattburns2467]

Would love to see an episode about the original Winnipeg Jets and also some MLS teams such as the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah I definitely want to start doing MLS/soccer videos in the future!

[@Whitesox_joey]

You're finally back 😀

[@AllSportsHistory]

I am!

[@vinceniederman]

@@AllSportsHistoryWelcome Back My Man and Glad U Have Done Another Sports Relocation Video!

[@vincentlospinuso7232]

@@AllSportsHistoryso happy to see you again

[@Hoovie9596]

@@AllSportsHistorycan you please to a What happened to the original Winnipeg Jets ?

[@user-qv3wb2gy1f]

@@Hoovie9596 Original Winn. Jets transplanted to Phnx. metro. area, Ariz. here in U.S. 🇺🇸 following N.H.L.'s 1995-1996 season/that was when they were re-branded as Coyotes

[@glennm.garcia6964]

@All Sports History: I enjoyed this video on the Buffalo Braves. I truly hope that you find the time to make a similar video to the following former NBA teams: San Diego Rockets, Syracuse Nationals, Rochester Royals, Minneapolis Lakers, Baltimore Bullets, St. Louis Hawks, Fort Wayne Pistons, Philadelphia Warriors.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you, yeah many of these are on my future to do list!

[@vinceniederman]

⁠@@AllSportsHistoryThe Philadelphia Warriors Had Wilt Chamberlain on Their Roster and The Baltimore Bullets Became The Washington Bullets Before Switching The Name To The Wizards!

[@michaelalsbrooks7305]

I remember when All-Star guard Randy Smith had a novelty record called McAdoo

[@kjorlaug1]

Great video. Buffalo Braves are a sad tale. I think you should do a mega video on the MLB moves of the 1950s.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you! Yeah there were quite a number of teams that moved during the 50's, would be a good topic to cover :)

[@anthonyrivera0917]

We miss your content, good to have you back again

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you!

[@CSXincyRailfan]

He is back! Also can you do a bid about the Cincinnati Royals and KC-Omaha (Latter KC Kings)?

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah for sure! I definitely want to a vid on the Kings history at some point.

[@robertbrauer6718]

@@AllSportsHistory That might have to be a two-parter. You could make one video about the franchise history in Rochester/Cincinnati/Kansas City and another about the history (and relocation attempts) in Sacramento.

[@vinceniederman]

@@AllSportsHistoryThe Kings Came Close of Moving To Seattle Once BTW!

[@tomshappyland2741]

Don't forget--the Cincinnati Royals began in Rochester NY.

[@vinceniederman]

@@tomshappyland2741 Some NBA Fans Don’t Know About That Unless Your a Long Time NBA Fan From The 1950’s On!

[@jamesmoss3424]

The NBA should come back to Buffalo one day. 😀👍🏀

[@AllSportsHistory]

Agreed!

[@mauricemagiq]

I joined the Navy the year the Braves left Buffalo; it was heartbreaking when they left. The weird part is, they followed me to San Diego lol, where I was stationed. Still, it wasn't the same, but I did get to see them up close as they practiced a few times on base.

[@jamesmoss3424]

@@mauricemagiq cool 😎. 😀👍🏀

[@christopherdonaldson8231]

13:20 Swen Nater (2nd in rebounds in Braves/Clippers history)

[@WDI2008]

Definitely need to do a video about what happened to California Golden Seals!

[@vinceniederman]

I Hope That Video Happens Of The California Golden Seals!

[@user-qv3wb2gy1f]

After 1977-1978 season franchise transplanted to So. Calif. where they were re-branded as Clippers

[@xp8969]

We know, we watched the video bro 😂

[@rexpresto]

I got a subscription alert for a new video from All Sports History…You helped take my mind off the Seahawks’ loss today. Great to see you back.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Haha tough loss to the Rams! Glad my video helped in some way :)

[@squidMB]

Glad you’re back!

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you!

[@renatocosta8315]

Great to have you back with another Defuncted Sports Teams video especially before the Clippers identity in San Diego and LA came to be, even though each of them take a long process to complete to perfection, I’m already excited and curious for what other teams are you planning to release in the near future 👍🏻

[@vinceniederman]

Bill Walton Played in His Hometown Even Though He Was Already Injured After His Playing Days in Portland Were Done!

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you! Yeah unfortunately these do take a long time to put together, I’m hoping to maybe make some shorter videos that I can get out sooner in the near future.

[@vinceniederman]

@@AllSportsHistory No Problem and U have the best Sports videos Ever bar None!

[@renatocosta8315]

@@AllSportsHistory Actually the way you set up each of these videos with some funny commentary makes up for some of the best sports history videos ever found around KZbin, Don't change a thing man

[@dreamcage1801]

Buffalo deserves another shot of an NBA team again

[@bufnyfan1]

They were stiffed in the 70s by the Buffalo Sabres and Canisius College who got all the prime dates at the old Aud and the Braves were stuck with what was left over. Unless they can find a place of their own I doubt they will ever be another NBA team in Buffalo.

[@sjdrifter72]

Finally! a new video. Why took you so long? You were missed.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Haha yeah, these take a while to make unfortunately and also my day job gets busy sometimes for me.

[@vinceniederman]

@All Sports History Welcome Back and U Should Do a Video of The San Diego Clippers Before They Moved To Los Angeles and Bill Walton Played in His Hometown Even Though He Was Always Injured!

[@AllSportsHistory]

I'd love to do a deeper dive into the SD Clippers and their move to LA in another video at some point, a lot more to cover there.

[@vinceniederman]

@@AllSportsHistory Good Idea and It’s Crazy That The Buffalo Braves Moved!

[@vinceniederman]

@All Sports History Here’s Another Idea “What Happened To The California Golden Seals” Since U Have Done a Few NHL Teams!

[@carljustinenuestro8771]

I’m a Laker fan but I love the Buffalo Braves jerseys during the Bob McAdoo era but it is a shame that they moved the team to San Diego then later on in Los Angeles. Btw Welcome back😊😊

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you!

[@erikriggs4954]

Very interesting on how they sabotaging their roster just to move to San Diego just to be worse. I'm hoping you can do one on "What happened to the Original Ottawa Senators or What happened to the Philadelphia Warriors?"

[@AllSportsHistory]

Both great ideas!

[@Whitesox_joey]

Video suggestions: What happened to the Chicago Cardinals NFL team?

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah the cardinals would be a good one!

[@CutterHistorical]

Wish u dug in more about Buffalos home games up North in Toronto

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah I can see that, the Toronto games might be a good topic for a short video on the NBA in Toronto before the Raptors came…

[@Covercover5050]

On September 25, 1974, the Braves played the Pistons at Maple Leaf Gardens.. I was at that game with a ticket from my middle school gym teacher who got tickets somehow. It was great fun and would try to get to more games but tickets were scarce.

[@White_sox_fan]

Yes next one do San Diego clippers

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah, I’d love to do a deeper dive on the clippers time in San Diego :)

[@vinceniederman]

@@AllSportsHistoryBill Walton Played in His Hometown But Didn’t Play As Much Which U Should Mention If U Do a Video About The Clippers in San Diego!

[@White_sox_fan]

@@AllSportsHistory while around the terms of basketball how about an all-sports history on the previous home in the Sacramento Kings like Rochester Cincy Kansas City Omaha

[@toddstevens13]

Too bad you didn't spend 30 seconds on what could of been perhaps the First Big 4 Lineup of Moses Malone, Bob McAdoo, Adrian Dantley, Randy Smith, and Ernie D, if they were not on purpose dismantled as you did state correctly.

[@stevenyates4535]

With Marvin Barnes, Swen Nater, and John Shumate along with others they would have been a dynasty!!

[@mbry1]

So in layman’s terms Buffalo lost their basketball team for the same reason every city loses their team greed and an unwillingness to improve the situation

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yep pretty much!

[@Chudley716]

Great job. Population declines in Buffalo over many decades make it impossible for the city to add an NBA team.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you, appreciate it!

[@de132]

Well, now I'm mad at Canisius

[@adamrmattock1]

Please do one on the Tampa Bay Devil Rays?

[@AllSportsHistory]

Just like a history of the Rays?

[@volrath247]

Babe wake up All Sports History just mf dropped pop the champagne🎉🎉

[@AllSportsHistory]

🥳🍾

[@PorkyJohnson328]

The narrator forgot to mention that the Atlanta Hawks were in St Louis from 1955-68.

[@blackdawg7361]

The NBA initially recognized the Toronto Raptors in 1995 - '96, the first season of professional basketball in Canada, hence, it would be unlikely for the Association to grant an NBA franchise in the city of Buffalo, in Western New York. Unless the Raptors were to jump over Niagara Falls and were renamed the Buffalo Niagaras.

[@toddstevens13]

You are just a little bit off sir. The very first NBA game was played in Toronto between the Toronto Huskies and the Knicks, Nov. 1, 1946. The Huskies only lasted one year but they obviously were the first professional basketball team in Canada

[@xp8969]

Toronto is the same distance from Buffalo as Pittsburgh and Cleveland are and all 3 support much larger NFL franchises, ur logic is flawed

[@TheAspieGamer66]

I’m about to move to Buffalo and we need another NBA team

[@AllSportsHistory]

💯

[@agentgaming1850]

I can’t believe the clippers were moved to LA Illegally that could have stopped a rivalry between them and my team the Lakers.

[@AllSportsHistory]

I’m a Laker fan as well, but can we call it a rivalry when the Clippers do absolutely nothing every year? Lol

[@Harmonarealtor]

Unfortunately, the NBA will never return to Buffalo. The market is too small to support 3 fall/winter major sports. Once the population dropped when the steel mills closed, it was doomed anyway.

[@canada87699]

What happened to the cfl American expasion. there is an idea. and it grey cup night tonight

[@vinceniederman]

I Like That Idea of a Sports Video!

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yep, the CFL experiment in the US would definitely be a good video to do.

[@canada87699]

​@AllSportsHistory the grey cup was won by a former American team this year

[@rngfootball759]

Bob McAdoo had some big games against my Celtics in the 70s

[@AllSportsHistory]

One of the best, not talked about enough honestly!

[@toddstevens13]

McAdoo was to the NBA what KD is today. Mc had all the skills KD had way back then.

[@toddstevens13]

And would of been a thorn in the side if ownership did not intentionally dismantle the team. For 2 games before the owner dismantled the team the Braves Line Up was Moses Malone at the 5, Bob McAdoo at the 4, Adrian Dantley at the 3, Randy Smith at the 2, and Ernie D at the 1, with Tom McMillian and John Schumate off the bench, and the next season added Gar Heard. Damn. First Big 4 perhaps?

[@triplennnoflaf]

You are so right........Braves might have won a championship if given 4 more years to mesh together. Moses at center McAdoo at PF and Dantley at small forward is a hell of a front line. Plus, coach Ramsay staying on to coach the team. I say they would have won something in Buffalo. @@toddstevens13

[@David-yw2lv]

Buffalo is shrinking so rapidly I expect the Bills & Sabers will be leaving soon.

[@sjdrifter72]

The Bills will be getting a new stadium, so they're staying. The Sabres on the other hand, can't draw fans to their games and would be a perfect candidate to relocate to Quebec City and the return of the Nordiques.

[@David-yw2lv]

@@sjdrifter72 I would move the Sabres to Jacksonville or Houston personally.I also would've opposed taxpayers funding a plaything for a multi millionaire.

[@xp8969]

​​​​​@@David-yw2lv​​​the Sabres haven't spent a single dollar of tax money, Pegula invested MILLIONS revitalizing downtown around Canalside, also Buffalo's population has been growing for more than a decade now, the decline ended nearly 20 years ago, time to wake up Rip Van Winkle 😂😂

[@Davidjon1946]

​@@sjdrifter72sabres are never leaving buffalo trust me

[@christopherdonaldson8231]

Courtesy of the Pegulas ​@@sjdrifter72

[@user-xe4me8pv3b]

The Braves forgot the Canisus Golden Griffins & Buffalo Sabres.

[@AllSportsHistory]

That they did.

[@heiththetristarand2stupiddogs]

I dont Think Buffalo is really a good expansion spot for The NBA as Seattle,Las Vegas,Pittsburgh,Louisville,etc But The Pelicans Might Relocate their

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah Seattle and Las Vegas seem like the obvious choices

[@sjdrifter72]

If the Pelicans do relocate, please don't make it Vegas. They've already stripped Oakland of both the Raiders and the A's. Pelicans should move to Seattle so that the SuperSonics can return.

[@heiththetristarand2stupiddogs]

@sjdrifter72 the Pelicans Are Definitely Not Considered Moving To Las Vegas

[@sjdrifter72]

@@heiththetristarand2stupiddogs Good to hear.

[@BigDiscussions76Sports]

I think the move sucked. I was born in the mid-1970s and thus never got to see the Braves play😡

[@KDMaster64]

The Sabres still popular than the NBA as of now.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Definitely a hockey town now!

[@coreylevine8095]

So the Clippers is in Los Angeles because of Al Davis winning his lawsuit against the NFL and the NBA don't want to go to court

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah pretty much lol

[@coreylevine8095]

@@AllSportsHistory So that is why people keep saying Los Angeles have too many teams

[@trevinschaerr3732]

I bet the NBA never comes back to Buffalo. It’s a shrinking city and the Raptors, Cavs and Knicks all have territory there or near Buffalo.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah agreed, there's too many other cities the NBA would go to first and you're right that the Raptors essentially have cornered that market.

[@christopherdonaldson8231]

The Braves/Clippers mediocrity before Kawhi, PG and Ty Lue

[@AllSportsHistory]

Pretty much haha

[@melvinhouston6359]

U wished they had stayed in Buffalo it would have been a great NBA city

[@CoyoteIslander]

Glad you're back!

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you!