Brian Truong

LOS ANGELES – The LA Clippers have announced a new partnership with fan influence and rewards platform Socios.com, the leading global blockchain provider for the sports and entertainment industry. The multi-year relationship will include Socios.com integrations into Clippers social media, digital and mobile platforms as well as hospitality experiences.

“At the Clippers our fans come first, and our relationship with Clipper Nation is built around engaging, seamless interactions with fans at every touchpoint,” said Scott Sonnenberg, Chief Global Partnerships Officer, LA Clippers. “Socios.com is a global fan engagement leader, and like us they understand how technology and innovation drive the sports industry forward. We’re thrilled to partner with them and grow our relationship in the blockchain space.”

“I’m delighted the LA Clippers have become the latest major U.S. team to join our rapidly expanding network,” said Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Socios.com and Chiliz. “The Clippers fully understand how our fan engagement platform will enable them to scale their brand globally and I’m very excited by our plans with them. This is yet another step forward in a very exciting period of unprecedented growth in the U.S. for our business.”

Driven by the central belief that transitioning passive fans into active fans is essential to the future of sport, Socios.com is a direct-to-consumer (D2C) platform that leverages blockchain technology to provide the world’s leading sporting organizations with the tools to engage with and monetize their global fanbases.

The Clippers join Socios.com’s 50+ network of major international sporting properties, which also includes FC Barcelona, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Manchester City, Inter Milan, Arsenal, the UFC, NASCAR’S Roush Fenway Racing, the New Jersey Devils and several other NBA teams.

About the LA Clippers
Led by Chairman Steve Ballmer, the LA Clippers have competed in 50 NBA seasons and appeared in the Playoffs in nine of the past 10 seasons. The Clippers are committed to the city of Los Angeles and through the LA Clippers Foundation, provide resources and opportunities that make a positive difference toward leveling the playing field for youth in Southern California. Visit the Clippers online at www.clippers.com or follow them on social media @LAClippers.

Transitioning passive fans into active fans is essential to the future of sport. Our vision is for an extensive network of the world’s leading sporting organizations to achieve this through Fan Tokens and transactional fan engagement on Socios.com. Fan Tokens, collectible, digital assets minted on the Chiliz blockchain, and the Socios.com fan engagement platform enable the world’s biggest sporting properties to plug into a fan influence and fan reward ecosystem. Socios.com has already generated $150M in revenues for sports teams in 2021. Over 40 major sporting organisations, including UFC® , FC Barcelona, Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Valencia CF, Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Manchester City and the Argentina and Portugal national teams have partnered with Socios.com. Aston Martin Cognizant and Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN of Formula One™ have launched Fan Tokens. Leading esports organizations Team Heretics, NAVI, OG and Alliance have all launched Fan Tokens on the platform. NHL side New Jersey Devils recently became the first US sports franchise to partner with Socios.com, before being joined by the 76ers and Boston Celtics of the NBA. Three leading IPL sides have also joined the Socios.com roster. Many more leading sports and entertainment properties from around the world are set to launch Fan Tokens in the near future.  Chiliz, the crypto unicorn behind the Socios.com platform has 140+ employees and has already opened new regional headquarters in Madrid, Istanbul, São Paulo. The company will open a new office in North America in the near future. Chiliz $CHZ has been listed on a host of major cryptocurrency exchanges around the world, including Coinbase and Binance. Socios.com - creators of Fan Tokens - also own www.fantokens.com which will launch soon. The Socios.com app is available in 10 languages. For more information please visit www.socios.com.

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LA Clippers Announce Partnership With Global Fan Influence And Rewards Platform Socios.com

The LA Clippers have signed free agent Justise Winslow, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

Winslow, 25, has appeared in 267 career games with averages of 8.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists over six seasons with the Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies. The 6-foot-6 forward played in 22 games last season for the Grizzlies, averaging 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds. He has also appeared in 19 career playoff games, posting averages of 7.3 points and 5.1 rebounds. In his debut season with Miami, Winslow was named to the All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 6.4 points and 5.2 rebounds.

The 10th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Winslow played one season of college basketball at Duke, starting all 39 games. He averaged 14.3 points and 9.3 rebounds during the NCAA tournament to help lead the Blue Devils to a national championship. The Houston native was a McDonald's All-American and was named Mr. Basketball for the state of Texas in 2014.

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LA Clippers Sign Justise Winslow

The NBA announced that LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard has been named to the 2020-21 All-NBA First Team and forward Paul George has been named to the 2020-21 All-NBA Third Team. This marks the third time in Leonard’s career that he has been voted to the All-NBA First Team and the fifth time that he has received an All-NBA honor. This is the sixth time in George’s career that he has been voted to an All-NBA team. Additionally, the Clippers were the only team this season to have multiple All-NBA selections. Six times in franchise history the Clippers have had multiple players earn All-NBA honors in a single season.

Leonard, who appeared in 52 regular season games, led the NBA in offensive rating (121.4), ranked fourth in net rating (12.2), and tied for fifth in steals per game (1.6). The 6-foot-7 forward also averaged career highs in assists (5.2) and minutes played (34.1). The Moreno Valley, Calif., native recorded four regular season games with at least 30 points and zero turnovers, which led the NBA. Leonard was also the only player to average at least 24.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.5 steals. Leonard was previously named to the All-NBA First Team in 2017 and 2016. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2020 and 2019.

George, who appeared in 54 regular season games, ranked fourth in the NBA in 3P% (41.1, min. seven 3PA) and tied for sixth in most games with at least five three-pointers made (14). The 6-foot-8 forward also averaged career highs in FG% (46.7) and assists (5.2). The Palmdale, Calif., native became the franchise’s all-time leader in most games with at least six three-pointers made (14) and was one of three players in the NBA this season to average at least 23 points and 6 rebounds while shooting 40% from three. George was previously named to the All-NBA First Team in 2019 and named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2018, 2016, 2014 and 2013.

The 2020-21 All-NBA First Team consists of Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers), Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) and Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks).

The 2020-21 All-NBA Third Team consists of Paul George (LA Clippers), Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz), Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat), Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards) and Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets).

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Kawhi Leonard and Paul George Named to All-NBA Teams

Los Angeles County recently announced that the LA Forum presented by Chase will serve as a large-scale COVID-19 vaccination site starting Tuesday, January 19. The Forum will continue to serve as a COVID-19 testing site.

Los Angeles County has launched a new “Know Your Tier” public information campaign that highlights the County’s new vaccination website, VaccinateLACounty.com, and explains how residents can find out when they will be eligible to be vaccinated. Only priority groups identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with additional guidance provided by the state, are receiving the vaccine. Currently, only frontline healthcare workers, residents and staff in skilled nursing facilities and other long-term care facilities are eligible for vaccination.

The LA Forum also served as a Vote Center for the 2020 Presidential General Election.

For media inquiries regarding the Los Angeles County vaccination program, please contact the L.A. County Joint Information Center - COVID-19 at pio@ceooem.lacounty.gov.

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The LA Forum to Serve as L.A. County COVID-19 Vaccination Site

The LA Clippers have signed Ky Bowman, Malik Fitts, Jordan Ford and Rayjon Tucker, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank. Per team policy, terms of the agreements were not released.

Bowman, 23, averaged 7.4 points, 2.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 45 games for the Golden State Warriors last season. The 6-foot-1 guard also appeared in 12 games with the Warriors’ G League affiliate, averaging 14.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists for Santa Cruz. The Havelock, N.C., native played three collegiate seasons at Boston College, earning All-ACC and All-ACC Tournament Second Team honors in 2019.

Fitts, 23, played two collegiate seasons at Saint Mary’s College, where he appeared in 68 games and averaged 15.9 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 47.3 percent from the field. Prior to transferring to Saint Mary’s, the 6-foot-8 forward played his first collegiate season at South Florida University, where he appeared in 27 games and averaged 7.4 points and 4.6 rebounds. A native of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Fitts was named to the 2018-19 All-WCC Second Team and to the 2019-20 All-WCC First Team.

Ford, 22, played four collegiate seasons at Saint Mary’s College, where he appeared in 133 games and averaged 14.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 41.6 percent from beyond the arc. The 6-foot-1 guard scored the second-most points in school history (1,929) and is the only Gaels player to score at least 700 points in multiple seasons. The Folsom, Calif., native was named to two All-WCC First Teams (2018-19, 2019-20) and two All-WCC Tournament First Teams (2019, 2020).

Tucker, 23, appeared in 20 games for the Utah Jazz last season, averaging 3.1 points and 1.0 rebound. The 6-foot-3 guard also appeared in 19 games for the Wisconsin Herd and Salt Lake City Stars of the G League, averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 47.2 percent from the field. The Charlotte, N.C., native played two collegiate seasons at Florida Gulf Coast University before transferring to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for the 2018-19 campaign, where he earned All-Sun Belt Second Team honors.

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LA Clippers Sign Bowman, Fitts, Ford and Tucker

The LA Clippers have partnered with globally renowned artist, Mister Cartoon, and LA-based graffiti and street artist Royyal Dog to celebrate the authentic spirit of LA street culture through this year's Nike City Edition uniform and merchandise collection. The 2020-21 City Edition uniform keeps the widely popular 'Los Angeles' wordmark from last season as the design's visual center on a black uniform with white accents.

The design is a symbol of the Clippers' commitment to Los Angeles and will help cultivate the next generation of talent in the city through the "Make Your Mark" campaign, which encourages LA youth to hone their art through practice and hard work and to strive for greatness. Through tireless effort, resiliency, and optimism, Mister Cartoon became a master of his craft and has inspired a generation of street artists like Royyal Dog to carve their paths and achieve their goals.

Once a month throughout the regular season, The Clippers and Mister Cartoon will host "Make Your Mark" digital workshops for high school students from organizations including Inner City Arts, the Los Angeles Unified School District and other LA-based school districts. During each session, 50 students will receive live, personalized instruction from Mister Cartoon via Zoom and a Clippers art kit containing all of the supplies needed for each workshop. Mister Cartoon will teach the students the techniques and methods that he has used to achieve global success.

“We are proud to represent a piece of this city’s culture and work with Mister Cartoon and Royyal Dog who serve as true examples of work ethic, dedication, and the all-out effort required to make a difference,” said Gillian Zucker, Clippers President of Business Operations. “This is more than a uniform unveiling. This is a commitment to inspire the next generation of Los Angeles creators, innovators, and disruptors and serve as a reminder that resiliency and passion are trademarks of the journey to Make Your Mark.”

“It’s been real cool working with the Clippers for the past two seasons,” said Mister Cartoon. “Our focus has been to motivate the youth and encourage them to have a work ethic like pro athletes do. We've connected with the heart and soul of Los Angeles. I'm looking forward to furthering the partnership this season to inspire the young creators and artists in the city and positively impact our community."

“It's an incredible opportunity to partner with the Clippers and an honor to work alongside Mister Cartoon, a pioneer and influence on artists all over the world,” said Royyal Dog. “Hip hop culture and artists like Mister Cartoon are what made me want to come to LA and continue to express myself through my art. I hope kids in this city can find that kind of inspiration from my work and journey.”

Led by Mister Cartoon's signature black and white color palette, the Clippers logo and wordmark appear three places on the new City Edition uniform. The primary icon is near the short hem and, keeping with the jersey’s black and white theme, is one-color, white. The secondary icon is on the uniform's belt with a white outline and black fill, an update from last year's full-color icon. The third placement features the Clippers wordmark in white above the jersey jock tag.

The 2020-21 City Edition Jersey and merchandise collection featuring a variety of gear showcasing the new white-on-black colorway will be available in the Clippers Fan Shop on December 3rd. Additionally, the Clippers, Mister Cartoon, and Royyal Dog are challenging Angelenos to “Make Their Mark” and design their own City Edition inspired t-shirt for the chance to have it featured in a special edition capsule collection that will be available to all fans in January 2021.

Fans can get more information about the merchandise collection and Make Your Mark campaign and competition, as well as receive first-in-line privileges for the City Edition collection drop, at www.clippers.com/cityedition.

Media interested in downloading imagery of the 2020-21 City Edition uniform and the City Edition-themed capsule collection can click here.

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LA Clippers Unveil 2020-21 Nike City Edition Uniform

The LA Clippers have named Tyronn Lue as the team’s head coach, it was announced today by Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

Lue will become the franchise’s 26th head coach after serving as an assistant coach for the Clippers during the 2019-20 season. Before joining LA, he was the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2016-18, amassing a 128-83 record, taking the team to three consecutive NBA Finals, and winning the franchise’s first NBA title in 2016.

“Ty has been where we want to go. He is a championship head coach with an extraordinary feel for the game and the people who play it,” Frank said. “He’s one of the great minds in our league, and he’s able to impart his vision to others, because he connects with everybody he meets. We conducted a thorough search and spoke with fantastic candidates. We found that the best choice for our team was already in our building. As head coach, Ty will put a unique imprint on the organization, and drive us to new heights.”

“The pieces we need are in place – committed ownership, smart management and elite talent, on and off the court, in the NBA’s best market,” Lue said. “My familiarity with the organization, particularly Mr. Ballmer and Lawrence, confirmed this is where I want to be. We have work to do to become champions, but we have the motivation, the tools, and the support to get there. I’m excited to get started.”

During the 2015-16 season, Lue became the fourth head coach since 1980 to win an NBA Championship during his first year, and the 14th person to have won a title as a head coach and as a player. During that same season, Lue was also selected to coach the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Over the next two seasons, he led the Cavaliers to two more Finals appearances, becoming the third head coach in NBA history to lead his team to three straight NBA Finals in his first three seasons. Lue previously worked on the Clippers staff as an assistant coach from 2013-14. He joined the team after spending two years with the Boston Celtics, as an assistant coach and the director of basketball development.

A native of Mexico, Missouri, Lue played 11 seasons in the NBA, winning two NBA championships in 2000 and 2001 with the Lakers. He appeared in 554 career games and averaged 8.5 points and 3.1 assists. Lue attended the University of Nebraska, where he was selected First-Team All-Big 12 in 1998 and had his jersey (#10) retired by the school in 2017.

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Clippers Name Tyronn Lue Head Coach

Continuing with our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, next we are highlighting Claire Restrepo, our Coordinator, Membership Service! See what she shared about her culture, career path, and transitioning from our Inside Sales team to MVP Services.

To me, being Hispanic means being a part of a community. There are 20 countries in the world that have Spanish as their official language. While all of these countries have different cultures, you can find shared elements among them too.

I am Colombian. My family is from Medellín.

Who are some Hispanic people that you look up to? Why do you look up to them?

My biggest role model is my grandfather, Enrique, but we call him Biggs. He immigrated to the United States and joined the US Military to earn citizenship for himself and my grandmother.

My favorite dish is called Bandeja Paisa, because it has all of the best parts of Colombian food on one plate! It has rice, cazuela de frijoles, plátanos maduros, carne molida, chicharrón, a fried egg, avocado, and an arepa. Paired with a Colombiana, the namesake soda in Colombia, it is *chef’s kiss*.

My favorite Hispanic athlete is El Pibe, Carlos Valderrama.

What are some of your favorite things about Hispanic culture?

My favorite thing about Hispanic culture is the community. You could be from Colombia, Mexico, or Nicaragua, and even though you have different cultures in your own countries, you’re still going to be able to connect with someone.

In college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was fortunate to be one of twenty four members of the Student Worker Program at Loyola Marymount University, where I worked for the university to pay tuition. I worked many jobs during my four years including the Facilities Management Waste &amp; Recycling Department and Student Financial Services, as well as various large-scale event set up. After working my way through college, I knew I wanted to do something big.

How did you break into the sports industry?

When I was looking for a job after I graduated college, I was focused on applying to positions that surrounded subjects that I was passionate about, but in which I could also grow. I have always been an NBA fan, so I turned to the Clippers. When I saw that applications were being accepted, I went over every detail on my resumé before submitting my application. I participated in two rounds of interviews and was offered a position as an Inside Sales Executive.

How was the transition from Inside Sales to MVP Services?

In Inside Sales, you make your calls and follow the sales process to generate revenue. You follow the sales process to see results. As a Coordinator for MVP Services, there is not necessarily a cut-and-dry process. There are tasks that have to be repeated, for example on game days, but a lot of the support that I provide is different from day to day. To plan the membership events, I have to search for the event space and vendors, coordinate with other departments, map out the general run of show, etc.

What does a remote workday look like for you?

Every day is different, but a typical remote workday starts with checking my email to make sure I’m up to date on all of the tasks I have to complete. First, I’ll take care of any assignments to support the Sales and Service representatives, including ordering gifts for members, assisting with sales contests, adding outbound email communication requests, etc. Then I will work on planning membership events for next season. Throughout the day I will monitor the general fan inboxes to respond to any questions. This all happens in between plenty of Zoom meetings!