Written by Andy | 23 May 2011

Maggie Mbroh/FlickrTo show his appreciation for what they've meant to the franchise, owner Donald Sterling has announced that at the Star Plaza outside Staples Center, the Clippers' home for 12 seasons, he plans to erect cardboard stand-ups of the best players in team history since the 1984 move to Los Angeles.

"It's high time we celebrate the retired Clipper greats who laid the foundation for where we are today," said Sterling, who drew inspiration for a public exhibit from the statues of past Los Angeles sports icons on display outside Staples Center. "I won't argue that Magic Johnson, Wayne Gretzky, Jerry West, Chick Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya are legends, but Clipper Nation and guys like Danny Manning, Benoit Benjamin, Loy Vaught and Eric Piatkowski have gone unappreciated for far too long."

The cutouts, according to Sterling, will be as "lifelike as possible", and are made from the best recycled corrugated cardboard money could buy.

"These true to life representations will stand almost as tall as the players themselves at an impressive six-feet in height, and will embody the essence of what it means to be a Los Angeles Clipper."

Sterling says his tribute to the franchise's all-time greats will remain until the end of time, or until the cardboard likenesses become completely unrecognizable when they are damaged by wind, rain and sunlight.

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