Lurking in the shadows of the Staples (SPLS) Center, somewhere beneath the esteemed purple-and-yellow championship banners hanging from the rafters, live Los Angeles' red-headed stepchildren, the Clippers.

While the Lakers are off celebrating their fifteenth NBA Championship, the Clippers, as per usual, have been on the golf course for months. It may seem unfair to compare the most successful franchise in the history of the NBA to the least successful, but the teams do share the same home court -- as well as the limelight -- in one of America's most densely populated cities.

The turbulent history begins in Buffalo in 1970, when the NBA added 3 expansion teams in order to stay a step ahead of the fast-growing American Basketball Association. The Braves would spend 8 seasons in upstate New York before moving to San Diego and changing their name to the Clippers.

Mediocre play led to poor ticket sales and, in 1984, the franchise again packed its bags and set out in search of greener pastures. They wound up at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena -- a building the Lakers had abandoned -- and played there until 1999, when the Staples Center was christened.

In those 29 years, the team made only 7 playoff appearances and advanced past the first round only twice. Otherwise it was mostly tripping and stumbling, including a dismal 12-70 record in the 1986-87 season.

According to Forbes, the Clippers rank 25 out of 30 in team valuations. The results were compiled based on categories such as current value (without destruction of debt), operating income, and debt value and revenue from both the team and its arena. It’s safe to say the Clippers would be lower on the list if it weren't for the value the Lakers bring to the Staples Center.