The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of Pacific Division of the league's Western Conference. The Clippers play their home games at the Staples Center, an arena they share with fellow NBA team the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. The franchise was founded in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves, and were one of three expansion teams to join the NBA that season, along with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers. The Braves saw some success and reached the playoffs three times, led by league Most Valuable Player Bob McAdoo. Conflicts with the Canisius Golden Griffins over the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium and the sale of the franchise led to the team relocating from Buffalo, New York, to San Diego, California. In 1978, upon relocating, the franchise became known as the San Diego Clippers, in reference to the sailing ships synonymous with San Diego Bay.