Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-15 · by Beth Harris The Associated Press
Former USC basketball player Chad Baker-Mazara has filed a lawsuit against the university and coach Eric Musselman, claiming they breached his NIL contract and made racially charged remarks after he was dismissed from the team in March. The suit alleges that Musselman directed discriminatory comments at Baker-Mazara following a loss to Nebraska and terminated his roster spot shortly afterward without reason. Baker-Mazara asserts that USC ended his NIL agreements with the program immediately after dismissing him, failing to pay out promised earnings. USC has denied any racial bias, stating they removed Baker-Mazara based on unspecified reasons unrelated to race.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Former Southern California basketball player Chad Baker-Mazara filed a lawsuit against USC and head coach Eric Musselman in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday. The suit alleges that Baker-Mazara was dismissed from the team shortly after USC lost eligibility for the NCAA Tournament to avoid paying him the remaining amount of his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) contract. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that Musselman made racially charged remarks to Baker-Mazara following a loss to Nebraska on February 28.
Baker-Mazara averaged 18.5 points per game, starting in 22 out of 26 games for USC last season and contributing significantly despite the team's struggles. His lawsuit includes claims of breach of contract, conversion, and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage but does not specify a monetary amount sought.
In response to the allegations, USC issued a statement denying any racial motivations in Baker-Mazara’s dismissal and emphasized its intention to defend itself against the legal action in court.
Written for “Chad Baker Mazara Lawsuit” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Former Southern California basketball player Chad Baker-Mazara is suing the university and coach Eric Musselman after his abrupt dismissal from the team in March.
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Mazara → sue → March
The lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court alleges Musselman kicked Baker-Mazara off the team after the Trojans were eliminated from NCAA Tournament contention to avoid paying the remainder of his NIL contract.
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Trojans → file → contract
It also alleges Musselman directed racially charged remarks at Baker-Mazara following a Feb. 28 loss to 12th-ranked Nebraska.
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Musselman → allege → Nebraska
The Trojans were in the midst of losing eight straight games to end the season.
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Trojans → lose → season
Baker-Mazara alleges breach of contract, conversion and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage in the lawsuit, which doesn’t state a specific dollar amount he is seeking.
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he → allege → amount
“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,” USC said Tuesday in a statement.
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USC → remove → statement
“We look forward to defeating this action in court.”
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We → look → court
Baker-Mazara claims the Trojans terminated his NIL agreements with the program the day after he was removed from the roster on March 1, stating he had violated a “morals clause.”
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he → claim → clause
The lawsuit alleges USC has not paid the remainder of the promised NIL earnings.
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USC → allege → earnings
“I gave everything I had to USC.
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I → give → USC
I played through injuries, showed up for my teammates every day, and honored my commitments,” Baker-Mazara said Tuesday in a statement from his publicist.
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Mazara → play → publicist
“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.
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you → file → what
The lawsuit cites a locker room incident after the Trojans’ loss to Nebraska in which Baker-Mazara claimed Musselman “lost his mind” during a profanity-laced tirade in front of the team.
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Musselman → cite → team
Baker-Mazara attempted to address his teammates in the locker room, the lawsuit says, when Musselman said, “You shut the (expletive) up!
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You → attempt → expletive
You are one of the worst teammates anyone can ever have!”
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anyone → have → teammates
Baker-Mazara responded, “Wow Coach, do you need me to leave because I don’t understand this animosity,” according to the lawsuit.
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I → respond → lawsuit
Musselman responded, “Yes, leave!
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Musselman → respond → ?
Nobody wants you here!!
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Nobody → want → you
,” the lawsuit states.
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lawsuit → state → ?
Baker-Mazara, a 26-year-old from the Dominican Republic, took the comments to be racist and discriminatory, according to the lawsuit first obtained by The California Post.
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Mazara → take → Post
The next day, Baker-Mazara was dropped from the team.
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Mazara → drop → team
The lawsuit says USC never gave him a reason for his dismissal.
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USC → say → dismissal
Baker-Mazara averaged 18.5 points as the team’s second-leading scorer while starting 22 of 26 games for the struggling Trojans last season, including a 14-point effort the 82-67 loss to Nebraska a day before being dismissed.
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Mazara → average → Nebraska
At the time, no reason or details were provided in a brief statement from the school.
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reason → provide → school
He wasn’t selected in this year’s NBA draft.
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He → select → draft
Baker-Mazara was MVP of the Maui Invitational, won by the Trojans last November.
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Mazara → win → Trojans
He began his college career at Duquesne before transferring to San Diego State for his second season, when he earned Mountain West Conference sixth man of the year honors.
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he → begin → honors
He went from there to Northwest Florida State College for one season and transferred to Auburn for two seasons, where he helped the Tigers reach the Final Four in 2025.
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Tigers → go → 2025
He left Auburn to join USC for his final collegiate season.
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He → leave → season
Associated Press writer Andrew Dalton contributed to this report.
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Dalton → contribute → report
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