Former Los Angeles Clippers trainer Randy Shelton is suing the organization for wrongful termination, among other things, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.
Haynes reports Shelton claims he was fired after complaining that Kawhi Leonard was being subjected to unsafe and illegal treatments for injuries.
More news: Lakers’ LeBron James, Son Bronny, Being Sued Regarding 2022 Car Accident
John David, one of the attorneys representing Shelton, issued a statement to Haynes.
“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.”
The Clippers organization also issued a statement to Haynes, disputing the claims.
“Mr. Shelton’s claims were investigated and found to be without merit. 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.”
The logo of the Los Angeles Clippers is seen during a press conference in Los Angeles on July 24, 2019. The Clippers are being sued.
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
The health of Leonard has been a major talking point for the Clippers organization ever since they signed him in the 2019 offseason. The two-time NBA champion and Finals MVP has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his career, but knee injuries, specifically, have taken a toll on him.
More news: Barack Obama Slams Current NBA Players for Ruining League Tradition
Leonard suffered what the team called a knee sprain during the 2021 playoffs. However, after the season, he underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL.
Leonard then missed the entire 2021-22 season recovering from the injury. He returned for the 2022-23 season, and played in just 52 regular season games Then, in the playoffs, he suffered a torn meniscus, and missed the final three games of an eventual first-round loss.
In the 2023-24 season, Leonard played in 68 regular season games, his most since the 2016-17 season with the San Antonio Spurs. However, he appeared in just two postseason games because of a right knee injury, and the Clippers would lose in the first round again, this time to the Dallas Mavericks.
This year, Leonard was ruled out for the beginning of the season due to inflammation in his right knee. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said Leonard suffered a “setback” in July while with the United States men’s Olympic basketball team before withdrawing from the 2024 Summer Olympics. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania said Leonard would likely miss multiple weeks.
Leonard signed a three-year, $152.4 million extension with the Clippers in Jan. 2024.
For more NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
More news: Pelicans All-Star Breaks Hand, Will Miss Significant Time
