Clippers lawsuit: Team says ex-staffer asked for millions before filing lawsuit involving Kawhi Leonard
LOS ANGELES - Attorneys for the Los Angeles Clippers are speaking out after a staffer accused the team of wrongful termination in a lawsuit that was filed last fall, with allegations involving Kawhi Leonard.
Randy Shelton, a former strength and conditioning coach for the Clippers, filed the lawsuit in October and claimed he was fired for speaking up after he said the team used illegal treatment for Leonard’s injuries.
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He said he felt the team did not care about the longevity of Leonard’s career and that the superstar was forced to play too soon. According to Shelton, the target date for Leonard to be fully recovered from the 2021 injury should have been 730 days, but the personal trainer claimed that number was deemed "unacceptable to the Clippers."
Attorneys who represent the Clippers said his claims are false.
"The Clippers did not provide ‘illegal treatment’ to Mr. Leonard. And [Shelton] was not terminated in ‘retaliation’ for anything. The Court should not be fooled," the legal team wrote, per ESPN.
Shelton claimed after expressing concerns, his role was diminished before he was let go.
Leonard, who has battled knee injuries throughout his NBA career, hasn’t played since late April and has yet to take the floor with his teammates at the Clippers’ new arena in Inglewood, the Intuit Dome. However, according to Law Murray with The Athletic, the six-time NBA All-Star is aiming to return sometime this month.
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In a court filing obtained by ESPN, the Clippers reportedly asked for the dispute to be settled by arbitration, citing the terms of Shelton’s employment agreement.
Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
ESPN also reported that Shelton was paid through the end of his contract, which ended in June 2024. The team said Shelton reportedly asked for millions and when they refused, that's when Shelton filed the lawsuit.
At some point after being fired, the Clippers allege Shelton used his association with the team and created a physical training business.
Meanwhile, Anthony Nguyen, one of Shelton’s lawyers, said the Clippers are trying to sweep the issue under the rug by requesting that the case is moved to arbitration.
"We will of course fight their attempt to do so as we believe everyone should have access to the issues uncovered in this case, and find it questionable that the Clippers, despite arguing that our client's claims are supposedly frivolous, want to prevent public access to the litigation of this case," he said in a statement to ESPN. "We believe that this matter should not be hidden from the public nor from fans."
Shelton first began working with Leonard at San Diego State University.