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University of Southern California men’s basketball coach Eric Musselman is being accused of launching a “profanity-laced, racially-charged post-game locker room tirade” at one of his former star players, according to a lawsuit filed by the player’s attorney on Monday, September 14.
Guard Chad Baker-Mazara transferred to USC from Auburn prior to the 2025-26 season to play his final collegiate year for the Trojans. He was dismissed from the team, however, on March 1, the day after the alleged incident.
Musselman’s alleged rant came after USC lost, 82-67, to Nebraska on February 28, according to court documents obtained by the California Post. The team was in the midst of what ended up being a season-ending eight-game losing streak.
Baker-Mazara, 26, scored a team-high 14 points in the defeat before leaving in the second half with an injury. He allegedly tried to address the team in the locker room before Musselman interrupted him.
“You shut the f*** up,” Musselman, 61, allegedly yelled. “You are one of the worst teammates anyone can ever have.”
Baker-Mazara then claims he responded by asking, “Wow Coach, do you need me to leave? Because I don’t understand this animosity.”
“Yes, leave,” Musselman allegedly responded. “Go back to the f***ing Dominican Republic. Nobody wants you here. F*** you.”
“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 — and were in fact taken by Baker-Mazara — to be racist and discriminatory, akin to telling an African-American to ‘go back to Africa,’” the lawsuit reads.
The suit continues, “Coach Musselman’s outburst was a direct attack on Baker-Mazara’s national origin and Dominican heritage, made from a position of authority and power by the Head Coach of the team, in front of all of Baker-Mazara’s teammates. The tirade was unprovoked, vicious, and discriminatory.”
Baker-Mazara also alleges that his dismissal from the team came as a way for the school to avoid paying him the remainder of the NIL contract he signed when he transferred to USC. The school’s NIL collective had already allegedly missed its most recent payment. The lawsuit accuses the school of breach of contract and interference with prospective economic advantage.
“In truth, no investigation was conducted prior to Baker-Mazara’s dismissal,” the suit claims. “USC did not interview Baker-Mazara, nor did it interview any of his teammates. In fact, USC never provided Baker-Mazara with a stated reason for his dismissal from the Team.”
USC responded in a statement obtained by The Athletic on Tuesday, September 15.
“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,” the statement read. “We look forward to defeating this action in court.”
Baker-Mazara, who is now playing professionally in Puerto Rico, also provided a statement to Us.
“I gave everything I had to USC. I played through injuries, showed up for my teammates every day, and honored my commitments,” he said. “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.”
