Former Los Angeles Clippers trainer Randy Shelton is suing the team for wrongful termination, among other claims, according to a Thursday report from NBA insider Chris Haynes.
Shelton has accused the franchise of firing him after he complained about “unsafe and illegal treatment” of Clippers star Kawhi Leonard as he dealt with injuries.
“We hope that our client’s lawsuit will serve as a wakeup call to the Clippers organization that their players are not just dollar values, but are humans requiring proper — and not hastened — health and recovery treatment for the careers and lives afterwards,” Shelton’s attorney, John David, said in a statement to Haynes.
Specifically, Shelton is accusing the team of rushing Leonard back from injury and ignoring agreed-upon load management protocols.
The Clippers are denying the accusations.
“Mr. Shelton’s claims were investigated and found to be without merit,” the team told Haynes. “We honored Mr. Shelton’s employment contract and paid him in full. This lawsuit is a belated attempt to shake down the Clippers based on accusations that Mr. Shelton should know are false.”
Shelton also claimed the Clippers conducted a multi-year recruitment of Leonard that “leapt well beyond the bounds of the NBA constitution” and tampering rules.
He and Leonard have worked together since the six-time All-Star’s days at San Diego State, where Shelton served as a strength and conditioning coach.
Shelton joined the Clippers on July 1, 2019 — shortly before Leonard signed with the team in free agency.
Not long after being hired by the team, Shelton claimed his role diminished, and he was left out of Leonard’s health management.
visiting Suns on Oct. 23, 2024. NBAE via Getty Images
He was fired without cause by the team in July 2023.
Leonard has dealt with numerous injuries with the Clippers, playing in just 256 of a possible 435 games since joining the team.
He is currently sidelined indefinitely with right knee inflammation.