Former Clippers trainer Randy Shelton recently filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Clippers, alleging wrongful termination and mishandling of star player Kawhi Leonard’s injuries. According to Shelton, he was fired after raising concerns about Leonard’s injury management, with the trainer originally advising a 730-day recovery period following Leonard’s 2021 ACL tear—more than twice the recovery time the Clippers followed.
Shelton claims the organization prioritized Leonard’s productivity over his health, disregarding what he asserts would have been a safer, extended rehabilitation approach.
Shelton, hired by the Clippers in 2019, had a long-standing relationship with Leonard dating back to his college days at San Diego State. His connection to Leonard played a part in the Clippers’ recruitment of the All-Star forward, as Shelton alleges he was approached by Clippers executives about Leonard’s medical situation as early as 2017, while Leonard was still under contract with the San Antonio Spurs.
The lawsuit describes this outreach as an attempt to gather “private health information” on Leonard, a move that could potentially constitute tampering under NBA rules. Though Leonard eventually joined the Clippers in 2019, Shelton contends that his role within the organization was marginalized soon after his hiring, limiting his ability to influence Leonard’s recovery protocols.
Leonard’s injuries have been an ongoing challenge for the Clippers since his signing. The forward initially sustained a significant ACL injury during the 2021 playoffs, an incident Shelton claims warranted a 730-day recovery period—a timeline he believes would have minimized future complications.
However, the Clippers reportedly deemed this duration “unacceptable,” pushing for a faster return. Consequently, Leonard returned to the court after a 16-month absence, only to experience knee swelling and inflammation after just two games. Over the following season, he suffered additional injuries, including ruptured ankle ligaments and a torn meniscus, which ultimately sidelined him in the playoffs.
The lawsuit describes multiple instances where the Clippers allegedly bypassed established load management protocols for Leonard, including an MRI revealing cartilage damage that was addressed with “band-aid” treatments rather than allowing for comprehensive healing.
Furthermore, Shelton claims that critical health information related to Leonard was withheld from him, effectively undermining his role. He also asserts that Leonard’s reported concussion wasn’t properly handled, with the team continuing to increase his workload, including back-to-back games.
In his final complaint to Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, Shelton outlined his belief that Leonard’s injuries had been mishandled, which he claims jeopardized the player’s long-term health.
Although the Clippers conducted an internal investigation, Shelton alleges his claims were deemed unsubstantiated, and he was subsequently terminated without cause in July 2023. Shelton’s lawsuit seeks significant but unspecified damages and calls for the organization to implement safer practices for managing player health.
The Clippers deny all allegations, stating that Shelton’s claims are “without merit” and that his contract was honored in full. They dismissed the lawsuit as a “belated attempt to shake down the Clippers based on accusations that Mr. Shelton should know are false.” The NBA is currently reviewing the court filings and has yet to make any formal statement on potential tampering implications or internal policies concerning player injury management.
Leonard’s continued absence due to knee inflammation adds a real-time dimension to this legal dispute, with the Clippers facing heightened scrutiny around their handling of the injury-prone forward. If Shelton’s claims hold, they could prompt broader discussions on how NBA teams balance player health with competitiveness, particularly regarding high-profile athletes expected to perform at peak levels.
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