Ex-USC star Chad Baker-Mazara sues school, alleges Eric Musselman launched racially charged tirade

Former USC forward Chad Baker-Mazara has filed a lawsuit against the school, alleging that head coach Eric Musselman booted him from the men’s basketball team once it was eliminated from NCAA Tournament contention to avoid paying him the remainder of his NIL contract and following a profanity-laced, racially charged tirade directed at Baker-Mazara.

The complaint, filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court and first reported by the California Post, alleges breach of contract and interference with prospective economic advantage. Baker-Mazara is seeking damages, including punitive and to have his attorney’s fees covered.

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.” As of publication Monday night, Musselman had not returned a text message from The Athletic asking for comment.

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.”

On the morning after the Nebraska loss, Baker-Mazara’s representatives were informed that Baker-Mazara had been dismissed from the team and was barred from accessing the team facility. 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 on Feb. 13, weeks before the Nebraska game, Baker-Mazara’s representatives were advised that the payment would be forthcoming. Over the next two weeks, USC, which began the season 12-1, would lose its next three games, stretching its losing streak to four as it sat on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Baker-Mazara missed the first two games of that losing streak because of an MCL injury. He returned on Feb. 21 against Oregon, scoring 21 points in a one-point loss.

By the next game against UCLA on Feb. 24, the lawsuit states, Baker-Mazara’s representatives were told that the cutoff to make the February payment had been missed, and both the February and March payments would be made 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.”

Hours before the Nebraska game on Feb. 28, Baker-Mazara’s representatives were advised, “USC cannot provide a date but they know (you) need it (payment) asap … ”

Baker-Mazara left the Nebraska game early in the second half after taking a hard fall while sprinting back to contest a shot, aggravating his knee injury. He alleges that after working through the injury in the locker room and tunnel area, he returned to the bench and signaled that he was available to return, but Musselman did not reinsert him into the game. USC lost 82-67, and following his dismissal, Baker-Mazara has not received the past payments he was owed. The suit states that he has also not been paid the remainder of his contract.

“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. Baker-Mazara had been invited to the 2025 NBA Draft Combine following the 2024-25 season when he was a starter on Auburn’s Final Four team. At USC last season, Baker-Mazara had the best statistical season of his career — averaging 18.5 points per game — but did not receive an invite to the combine. He was invited to the NBA’s Portsmouth Invitational, an event for college seniors trying to get drafted. His invitation was eventually rescinded, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges that “Defendant was fully aware of Baker-Mazara’s prospective economic relationships, including his invitation to the P.I.T., and NBA draft potential. Defendant engaged in independently wrongful conduct designed to disrupt Baker-Mazara’s economic relationships and professional prospects through the conduct of its employee, Coach Musselman.”

Baker-Mazara went undrafted and has since signed with a professional team in Puerto Rico. USC missed the 2026 NCAA Tournament and has gone just 14-26 in the Big Ten in two years under Musselman.