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Ex-USC Star Chad Baker-Mazara Sues Trojans, Eric Musselman Over Dismissal, NIL Pay
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- Ex-USC Star Chad Baker-Mazara Sues Trojans, Eric Musselman Over Dismissal, NIL Pay
Six months after USC abruptly cut ties with its second-leading scorer, the fallout has landed in court.
Former Trojans forward Chad Baker-Mazara is suing the university and coach Eric Musselman over his March dismissal, alleging the school pulled him from the roster to avoid paying the rest of his NIL contract.
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The suit was filed Sept. 14 in Los Angeles Superior Court, according to KNWA .
What the Lawsuit Alleges
The complaint lists breach of contract, conversion and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage. It doesn't name a dollar figure.
ESPN reports the suit claims Musselman removed Baker-Mazara after the Trojans fell out of NCAA Tournament contention, specifically to avoid the remaining NIL payments.
The NIL piece goes further. NBC Sports notes that Baker-Mazara says USC ended his NIL agreements the day after he was removed from the roster, citing a "morals clause," and never paid what remained. KNWA adds that the suit says USC never explained the dismissal or investigated first.
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The Locker Room Claim
The most serious allegation centers on Feb. 28, after an 82-67 home loss to No. 12 Nebraska. According to the suit, as relayed by NBC Sports , Baker-Mazara tried to speak to his teammates and Musselman shut him down with a profanity-laced tirade.
When Baker-Mazara asked whether he should leave, the suit says Musselman told him to go back to the Dominican Republic. Baker-Mazara is from there, and he took the remark as racist and discriminatory.
CBS Sports quotes the complaint as calling the outburst "unprovoked, vicious, and discriminatory," and describing it as a direct attack on his national origin. He was dismissed the next day.
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USC's Response
The school pushed back quickly. In a statement Tuesday, USC said the decision to remove him involved several considerations , "none having to do with race." The school also said, per NBC Sports , "We look forward to defeating this action in court."
Baker-Mazara, in his own statement, said he played through injuries and honored his commitments, and that suing wasn't an easy decision but he believes in standing up for what he was promised.
The Backstory
There's context here that neither side can wave away. Baker-Mazara was a productive player, averaging 18.5 points and starting 22 of 26 games last season, per ESPN , while the Trojans lost eight straight to close the year. He was also MVP of the Maui Invitational earlier in the season.
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But at the time, the LA Times reported the exit came after a season's worth of friction, not a single moment, according to a person familiar with the decision.
USC was his fifth school in six seasons. Yahoo Sports noted the split was reportedly tied to "an accumulation of issues," though the school never gave specifics. He went undrafted this summer, and CBS reports he wasn't invited to the NBA Draft Combine. The suit claims the dismissal hurt his stock.
Ex-USC star Chad Baker-Mazara is suing the USC Trojons and Eric Musselman over his dismissal and NIL pay.Icon Sportswire / Getty Images
What to Watch
None of this has been tested in court. The allegations are just that, and USC has said it will fight.
Still, the timing is awkward for Musselman, who is entering his third season in Los Angeles and coming off a season that ended in a long losing streak.
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Expect USC's formal response to the complaint, and any comment from Musselman himself, to shape how this plays out heading into the season.
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This story was originally published by Lindys Sports on Sep 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
