USC basketball player sues coach over alleged racial abuse and NIL dispute

Former University of Southern California (USC) basketball player Chad Baker-Mazara has filed a lawsuit against the university and head coach Eric Musselman. The legal action, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that Baker-Mazara was subjected to a racially charged and profanity-laced tirade by Musselman following a loss to Nebraska on February 28.

According to the complaint, Musselman directed discriminatory remarks at Baker-Mazara, telling him to ‘Go back to the f—ing Dominican Republic!’ The lawsuit further alleges that Baker-Mazara was abruptly dismissed from the team in March to avoid paying the remainder of his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) contract. The player claims the university invoked a ‘morals clause’ to terminate the agreement.

USC has denied the allegations of racial bias, stating that the decision to remove the student-athlete from the roster was based on ‘a number of considerations, none having to do with race.’ The university expressed its intention to contest the lawsuit in court.