Chad Baker-Mazara Files Lawsuit Against USC Basketball Coach

Chad Baker-Mazara, who was the leading scorer for USC last season, has filed a lawsuit claiming that head coach Eric Musselman directed a “profanity-laced, racially-charged” tirade at him that led to his departure from the team. This accusation surfaced in a legal action filed in Los Angeles on Monday, according to reports.

The incident reportedly occurred after a game against Nebraska on February 28, after which Baker-Mazara and USC parted ways shortly thereafter.

The lawsuit alleges multiple claims against the university, including breach of contract, conversion, and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage.

It is claimed that Musselman yelled at Baker-Mazara in the locker room, saying, “You shut the f—k up! You are one of the worst teammates anyone can ever have!”

Baker-Mazara also recounted that when he asked if he should leave the team, Musselman replied harshly, telling him to go back to the Dominican Republic and expressing his frustration with expletives. Following this confrontation, Baker-Mazara was dismissed from the team the next day.

Further complicating matters, Baker-Mazara contends that USC withheld a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payment and attempted to nullify the agreement due to a “morals clause.”

The lawsuit emphasizes that Musselman’s outburst was a direct attack on Baker-Mazara’s Dominican heritage, characterizing the tirade as unprovoked, vicious, and discriminatory.

In an interview with a media outlet in June, Baker-Mazara expressed disappointment over Musselman’s silence after the incident and described the dismissal as “hurtful.” He had believed their relationship was relatively strong, despite acknowledging that they didn’t always agree.

USC responded to the lawsuit, stating that the decision to remove Baker-Mazara from the team was based on various considerations unrelated to race and expressed confidence in defending against the case in court.

Currently, Baker-Mazara is out of college eligibility and was recently drafted by the Gigantes de Carolina, a professional basketball team in Puerto Rico.