Former Clippers Trainer Claims Termination for Voicing Concerns Over Kawhi Leonard's Health

Randy Shelton, a former athletic trainer for the Los Angeles Clippers, has filed a lawsuit against the team and its president of basketball operations, Lawrence Frank, alleging wrongful termination. According to court documents obtained by NBA insider Chris Haynes, Shelton claims he was fired after expressing concerns about Kawhi Leonard's injury management and treatment practices that he believes violated NBA protocols.

In his lawsuit, Shelton asserts that Leonard was subjected to "unsafe treatment" that went against established health guidelines. He also alleges that the Clippers' efforts to recruit Leonard involved conduct that breached the NBA's tampering rules, pushing beyond "the bounds of the NBA constitution."

Shelton's legal representation hopes the case will prompt the Clippers to prioritize the health and recovery of their players over their market value. "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 said in a statement to Haynes.

Shelton, who began working with the Clippers in July 2019, was previously Leonard's strength and conditioning coach at San Diego State. He says his hiring was a strategic move by the Clippers as part of their multi-year effort to sign Leonard, a Los Angeles native, to their NBA franchise.

According to the lawsuit, Clippers assistant general manager Mark Hughes first contacted Shelton in 2017 while Leonard was still playing for the San Antonio Spurs, seeking private health information about the star player. Shelton alleges the team again reached out during Leonard's 2019 championship run with the Toronto Raptors to assess his interest in joining the Clippers. Leonard eventually signed a three-year, $103 million contract with the team after leading the Raptors to their first NBA title.

A key aspect of Shelton's lawsuit focuses on Leonard's injuries. Shelton claims that the Clippers hastily cleared Leonard to return after an ACL tear in 2021, and further alleges that Leonard exhibited signs of a concussion following a collision during a March 25, 2023 game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite showing concussion symptoms, Leonard was allowed to continue playing without proper evaluation by the team's medical staff, a decision that Shelton argues violated NBA health and safety protocols.

The lawsuit also highlights Leonard's meniscus tear during the Clippers' 2023 playoff series against the Phoenix Suns. Shelton claims he submitted a written complaint to Lawrence Frank following the injury, criticizing the organization for mishandling Leonard's injury and recovery process. He was dismissed from his position less than three months later.

The Clippers have denied Shelton's accusations, maintaining that his claims were thoroughly investigated and found to be baseless. "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 Clippers said in a statement to Haynes. "This lawsuit is a belated attempt to shake down the Clippers based on accusations that Mr. Shelton should know are false."

Shelton is seeking unspecified but "significant" damages, according to his attorneys in statements made to ESPN's Baxter Holmes and Ramona Shelburne. The NBA has not commented on the lawsuit, with a league spokesperson confirming to Holmes and Shelburne that they were unaware of the case.