Former basketball forward Chad Baker-Mazara filed a lawsuit Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court against the University of Southern California, alleging that head coach Eric Musselman removed him from the USC team once it was eliminated from NCAA tournament contention to avoid paying him the remainder of his NIL contract.
As reported by The Athletic, this roster move followed a profanity-laced, racially charged tirade directed at Baker-Mazara.
The complaint alleges breach of contract and interference with prospective economic advantage. Baker-Mazara is seeking punitive and other damages, as well as attorney’s fees.
In a statement Monday night, a USC spokesperson said, “The decision to remove the student-athlete from the men’s basketball roster was based on a number of considerations, none having to do with race. We look forward to defeating this action in court.”
The lawsuit highlights an interaction between Musselman and Baker-Mazara after a Feb. 28 loss to Nebraska, stating that Musselman “lost his mind” in a “racially charged” tirade, and that when Baker-Mazara attempted to address his teammates, Musselman erupted at Baker-Mazara, saying, “You shut the f— up! You are one of the worst teammates anyone can ever have!”
The lawsuit alleges that after Baker-Mazara responded calmly and respectfully, “Wow Coach, do you need me to leave because I don’t understand this animosity,” Musselman then directed Baker-Mazara to leave and screamed: “Yes, leave! Go back to the f—ing Dominican Republic! Nobody wants you here!! F— you!”
The suit states that the words “Go back to the f—ing Dominican Republic” are generally understood by persons of color in the United States originating from the Dominican Republic to be racist and discriminatory — and were in fact taken by Baker-Mazara that way — akin to telling an African-American to “go back to Africa,” The Athletic's CJ Moore reported.
"On the morning after the Nebraska loss, [which Baker-Mazara left early after aggravating a knee injury that had sidelined him for two previous games] Baker-Mazara’s representatives were informed that Baker-Mazara had been dismissed from the team and was barred from accessing the team facility," Moore wrote. "The suit alleges that USC never conducted an investigation prior to his dismissal. No one interviewed Baker-Mazara or any of his teammates and never provided Baker-Mazara with a reason for his dismissal."
The lawsuit also alleges that USC’s NIL Collective House of Victory Foundation missed a February payment to Baker-Mazara, and that the player was told he would receive a double payment in March. In the lawsuit, Baker-Mazara’s lawyers write that “Baker-Mazara’s representatives pushed back, advising that they had provided all information and signatures needed, and there was no reason payment could not be processed before the end of February.”
Baker-Mazara still has not received the past payments, according to The Athletic. The suit states that he has also not been paid the remainder of his contract following his dismissal from the team.
“I gave everything I had to USC. I played through injuries, showed up for my teammates every day, and honored my commitments,” Baker-Mazara said in a statement provided to The Athletic. “Filing this lawsuit was not an easy decision, but I believe it is important to stand up for what you were promised and what you are owed. I am proud of what I accomplished throughout my college career, and I remain focused on my professional basketball career, my family, and the opportunities ahead. I look forward to letting the facts speak for themselves through the legal process.”
On March 13, the lawsuit states, USC’s NIL collective “purported to terminate the Agreements pursuant to the purported morals clause contained in the respective Agreements.” The morals clause allows termination of a contract if an athlete commits acts that are “immoral, deceptive, scandalous or obscene,” or acts that “could adversely affect USC, HOV, the USC athletic department, the USC men’s basketball program, or any related parties or entities.”
The lawsuit alleges that Baker-Mazara has never received an explanation as to how he allegedly violated the morals clause.
In addition to the money left in his contract, Baker-Mazara is also seeking damages for hurting his NBA Draft stock.
