Former Clippers trainer suing team, says he was fired for voicing concerns over Kawhi Leonard injuries

A former trainer with the Los Angeles Clippers is suing the team for wrongful termination, claiming he was dismissed for raising concerns over the treatment Kawhi Leonard was receiving for his injuries.

Randy Shelton is claiming in a lawsuit that he was “fired after complaining that Kawhi Leonard was being subjected to unsafe and illegal treatments for injuries,” reports Chris Haynes.

The Clippers responded with 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,” the statement read. “This lawsuit is a belated attempt to shake down the Clippers based on accusations that Mr. Shelton should know are false.”

Former Los Angeles Clippers trainer Randy Shelton is suing the franchise for wrongful termination, among other things, after he claims he was fired after complaining that Kawhi Leonard was being subjected to unsafe and illegal treatment for injuries. pic.twitter.com/qv1vOwhO7l

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 24, 2024

Shelton says he was hired by the Clippers as part of an effort to recruit Leonard as a free agent. His relationship with Leonard goes back to when he was a strength and conditioning coach at San Diego State, where the NBA star played college basketball from 2009 through 2011.

“Following Leonard’s departure from SDSU and his selection in the 2011 NBA draft to the San Antonio Spurs, Shelton was hired by Leonard to continue to work with Leonard and prepare him for the NBA,” the lawsuit says. “Leonard and Shelton maintained a personal and working relationship through 2017.”

The document continues by saying that Clippers assistant general manager Mark Hughes “began pursuing Leonard through Shelton” while Leonard was still under contract with the Spurs, with the executive allegedly seeking private health information on Leonard and attempting to learn his contract requirements and medical situation.

Leonard signed with the Clippers before the 2019-20 season and Shelton was hired at that time. After Leonard suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during the NBA…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/former-clippers-trainer-suing-team-says-he-was-fired-for-voicing-concerns-over-kawhi-leonard-injuries-205624034.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-10-24 20:56:00

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