Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Dec 21, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans forward Chad Baker-Mazara (4) in the first half against the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs at Galen Center.
In early March, Chad Baker-Mazara‘s seemingly endless college basketball career came to a fizzle when he was kicked off the USC Trojans, and now we know why. Or, at least, we know what Baker-Mazara thinks is the reason why.
At the time of his dismissal, Baker-Mazara, who was seemingly at the heart of controversy at all five of his college stops, indicated that he didn’t know why he’d been kicked off the Trojans’ roster, as the season was seemingly coming to a close anyway.
Now, in a new lawsuit, he’s accusing head coach Eric Musselman of racism and seeking damages from the university.
Chad Baker-Mazara Is Suing The USC Trojans
According to a report from the New York Post, Mazara alleges that Musselman “launched into a profanity-laced, racially-charged post-game locker room tirade” after a loss to Nebraska that preceded his dismissal from the team.
Baker-Mazara did not play in the second half of the 82-67 loss following an injury. However, he allegedly attempted to address the team in the locker room afterward, which is when Musselman “lost his mind.”
82-67, and when the team got back to its dressing room, Baker-Mazara claimed in his lawsuit that Musselman “lost his mind.”
Baker-Mazara claims that when he went to speak to his teammates, Musselman interrupted and yelled, “You shut the f—k up! You are one of the worst teammates anyone can ever have!’,” according to the suit.
Baker-Mazara then asked Musselman if he needed to leave, to which Musselman is alleged to have responded, “Yes, leave! Go back to the f—king Dominican Republic! Nobody wants you here!! F—k you!”
The former USC, Auburn, Northwestern, Florida State, San Diego State, and Duquesne player was born and raised in the Dominican Republic.
“The words ‘Go back to the f—king 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 claims.
Neither Musselman nor USC have responded publicly to the allegations.