A former trainer with the Clippers is suing the team for wrongful termination and claims he was fired after raising concerns about the treatment Kawhi Leonard was receiving for injuries.
There were also further claims in the suit that the franchise was tampering for years before signing Leonard in the summer of 2019 after he won a chip with the Raptors.
Shelton alleged in the suit first reported by NBA insider Chris Haynes, that LAC fired him after he issued a complaint that Kawhi “was being subjected to unsafe and illegal treatment for injuries.”
Shelton was Kawhi’s strength and conditioning coach at San Diego State and has maintained a well-publicized relationship with the Clippers forward since, the suit explains.
In 2017, the Clippers GM Mark Hughes “began pursuing Leonard through Shelton” and repeatedly emphasized the need for “discretion” as he sought “private health information about Leonard”.
Shelton spoke to Hughes approximately 15 times on the phone and had several in-person meetings, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit says that Shelton also met with Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and was “personally assured” there would be a role carved out for for him if Leonard signed with team.
The Clippers ended up hiring Shelton as a strength and conditioning coach during the same offseason they signed Leonard.
However, Shelton claims his role was quickly diminished and health information was withheld from him.
He further alledges that the team cared far more about Leonard’s productivity than his actual health and recovery and that the proposed recovery time of 730 days after his 2021 playoff ACL tear, combined with other injuries was “unacceptable.”
LAC have strongly denied these claims and have put them down to nothing more than a cash grab.
“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.”
John David, one of the attorneys representing Shelton, said in a statement to Haynes, “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.”
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