Clippers Trainer Sues Team Over Kawhi Leonard’s Care

A former trainer for the LA Clippers is alleging wrongful termination, claiming he was fired for trying to stop what he deemed unsafe and illegal medical treatments on star player Kawhi Leonard.

Allegations of Unsafe Practices and Manipulation

Randy Shelton, who trained Leonard at San Diego State and served on the Clippers staff from 2019 to 2023, filed a lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court. He alleges the Clippers disregarded Leonard’s health and safety, ignoring known medical restrictions. The suit also accuses the team of tampering with Leonard leading up to his free agency in 2019, utilizing Shelton’s potential employment with the Clippers as leverage to entice the forward to join the franchise while he was still with the Toronto Raptors.

According to Shelton, the Clippers initiated contact with him repeatedly, promising him a role within the organization. Shelton, who worked at San Diego State from 2010 to 2019, maintained a strong relationship with Leonard after his 2011 draft by the San Antonio Spurs. Shelton ultimately left the school to work as a performance specialist for the Clippers. The lawsuit claims that the Clippers, in addition to pursuing Leonard through Shelton while he was with Toronto, had connections to Shelton as early as 2017, during Leonard’s final season with the Spurs.

Shelley Seeks Damages and Rebuttal from the Clippers

Shelton is seeking unspecified monetary damages for lost wages and non-specific monetary payments for mental and emotional distress resulting from his termination.

The Clippers vehemently denied Shelton’s allegations in a statement, stating that his claims were investigated and found to be without merit. The team emphasized that they honored Shelton’s employment contract and paid him in full, characterizing his lawsuit as a belated attempt to extort the Clippers based on accusations that Shelton should know are false.

The NBA acknowledged the lawsuit on Thursday but declined to offer further comment.

Leonard’s Injury History and Rehabilitation Strategies

Shelton was renowned for his work with Leonard, particularly focusing on strengthening his quad muscles. Leonard has faced persistent quadriceps issues throughout his career, missing significant playing time due to left quadriceps injuries in the 2012-13 season and a right quadriceps tendinopathy diagnosis during the 2017-18 season.

When Leonard played for Toronto, the team implemented aggressive load management, resting him during back-to-back games to protect his fragile quadriceps. The Clippers adopted a similar strategy in his first season in Los Angeles but abandoned it after a disappointing postseason in the 2020 bubble.

Leonard’s right knee problems became a focal point in June 2021, when he suffered a partially torn ACL. After signing a four-year contract with the Clippers that offseason, he missed the entire 2021-22 season rehabbing from the ACL surgery as the Clippers faltered in his absence, failing to even reach the playoffs.

The Alleged Clippers Strategy and Shelton’s Termination

The lawsuit alleges that the Clippers’ strategy for the 2022-23 season was to have Leonard play, despite his injury history. Leonard participated fully in training camp and preseason games, but he was held out for back-to-back contests as a precaution. However, he returned prematurely after a 25-day absence due to a knee flare-up, and in his third game back, he suffered another serious ankle injury, sideline him for two additional weeks.

By the end of the season, Leonard played in two sets of back-to-back games as the Clippers tried to avoid the Play-In Tournament without adding another injured star player, Paul George. Eventually, they clinched a playoff spot, but Leonard tore his right meniscus in the final three games of the regular season.

Shelton was terminated the following offseason.

Leonard’s Continued Challenges and the Upcoming Season

The Clippers’ approach to Leonard’s workload shifted again in the 2023-24 season, with Leonard playing in more back-to-back contests. He participated in 68 of the team’s first 74 games before a right knee flare-up sidelined him for the final eight games of the regular season. He also missed Games 4 and 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

In May, Leonard underwent a procedure to address right knee inflammation and was cleared to participate in Team USA training camp in July but was later removed from the roster due to a setback.

As the 2024-25 season approaches, This upcoming season, the Clippers have announced that Leonard will be held out of drills to strengthen his knee. Coach Tyronn Lue reported that Leonard had been managing another flare-up after his time with Team USA but is week-to-week as he continues to prepare for a season where staying healthy will be crucial for both Leonard and the Clippers.

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