Ex-Clippers staffer sues club over alleged unlawful dismissal, reveals All-Star's "unacceptable" injury "mishandling"

A former Los Angeles Clippers staffer has taken legal action against the club over his alleged wrongful termination following comments about the safety of star forward Kawhi Leonard.

Randy Shelton, a strength and conditioning coach with the Clippers from 2019 to 2023, filed a lawsuit against the club on Friday in Los Angeles County.

The lawsuit alleges Shelton was not compensated for wages owed, including expenses and reimbursements after his unlawful dismissal from the Clippers in 2023.

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Shelton's lawsuit alleges the Clippers violated the NBA's anti-tampering rules with their free agency recruitment of Leonard.

Given Shelton's previous work with the six-time All-Star at the San Diego State Aztecs, he says he was brought to the club in pursuit of attracting Leonard to become a Clipper.

Following Leonard's departure from San Diego State, he hired Shelton in bid to enhance his preparations for the NBA.

Shelton is seeking "significant" but unspecified damages at trial, according to comments made to ESPN by his attorneys.

The Clippers denied the allegations in a statement on Friday (AEDT).

"Mr. Shelton's claims were investigated and found to be without merit," the club wrote.

"We honour 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 said an executive of the club reached out to him in 2017, seeking "private health information" and expressing the need for "discretion" regarding Leonard.

The two parties spoke approximately 15 times on the phone and engaged in at least seven meetings in attempt to learn more about Leonard's contractual obligations, the lawsuit states.

Article 35 of the NBA's constitution prohibits clubs from "directly or indirectly" attempting to lure players under contract to move teams.

Clippers personnel were in attendance at several of Leonard's games across the 2018-19 season. The team was later fine $75,000 by the NBA after then-Clippers coach Doc Rivers made a comment comparing Leonard to Michael Jordan.

Just two months after Rivers' comments, Leonard signed with the Clippers.

Shelton stated he met with Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, who "personally assured" him the club would have a position for him with the team if Leonard traded his colours.

In Leonard's introductory conference, the club stated no prior conversations had occurred "with Kawhi or any of his people."

Shelton claims that his role at the club was diminished shortly after agreeing to his contract and information regarding Leonard's health was withheld.

Following Leonard's ACL injury during the 2021 playoffs, which ruled him out of action for the following season, Shelton was informed the recovery timeline target was "unacceptable."

Shelton said a meeting held in 2022 with members of the Clippers' medical staff concluded that the Leonard would undergo load management principles that would see him play limited minutes and ineligible to play back-to-back as he continued recovery.

Leonard returned to the court 16 months, October 2022, after suffering the injury but was sidelined once again after two games.

The injury battle was only just beginning for Leonard, who a month later suffered two ruptured ligaments in his right ankle.

In hopes to end his sideline stint, Leonard returned for the playoff series but tore his right meniscus. The injury run prompted Shelton to write a letter of complaint about the player's management.

Shelton declared the "mishandling of Kawhi Leonard's injury and return-to-play protocol has been mind blowing. The disregard for his recovery process is unacceptable."

His allegations were found to have no evidence in the club's investigation. He was then allegedly terminated without cause in July 2023.

Leonard has been absent from 179 of a possible 435 games since joining the team in 2019. He remained sidelined indefinitely for the current season due to a knee injury.