John McCain’s embattled campaign vice presidential gaffe running mate isn’t the only West Coaster making headlines in celebrity gossip columns this week.
Just weeks removed from signing on the dotted line of a 6-year, $66 million contract that will keep him in a Golden State Warriors uniform, Monta “ETB Favorite” Ellis experienced a rather significant setback. To his ankle. One of two ankles that helps propel him from one end of the floor to the other faster than Eddy Curry to the bottom of a tub o’ ice cream.
It’s going to sideline him for at least 3 months, but there’s no telling how accurate that estimate is or how long long it’ll take Ellis to actually get back to full speed.
Monta Ellis Photo Credit: Icon SMI
Mmhmm, these things can linger. And that’s devastating news to a Warriors team that’s going to need every win it can get in the ever-competitive Western Conference hunt for a playoff berth. Their 0-6 start last year came back to haunt them later, and a similar scenario could unfold once again. The team was already facing a potentially awkward transition from Baron Davis to Ellis as the starting point guard, especially given that Ellis has yet to run that position full time for an entire season.
Now, while Ellis ices his ankle and recovers from surgery, it’ll likely be third-year PG Marcus Williams getting the start. The ’06 first-round pick of the New Jersey Nets has flashed great potential here and there in spot duty behind Jason Kidd, and it’ll be interesting to see how he does with extended burn in Nellie’s uptempo offense. It’s tough to say, but if he’s logging upwards of 25 – 30 minutes per while Ellis is out, I could see at least 13 points and 6 assists a night. I’m tempted to say he has the talent to easily surpass that project, but we still just don’t know enough about Williams. That’ll change soon enough.
Ellis said he severely sprained his ankle during a normal, everyday workout at home in Jackon, Mississippi. Then a report out of the Contra Costa Times said the team was sending its trainer, Tom Abdenour, out to investigate what it thought sounded like a mysterious injury. Then the San Francisco Chronicle refuted that story, saying Abdenour was actually in South Africa.
Oh, the drama!
Big money tends to breed big paranoia in professional sports, so whether or not Golden State’s $66 Million Dollar Man is fibbing about what caused the injury it’s no surprise that Warriors GM Chris Mullin & Co. are a bit skeptical. If Ellis actually suffered this severely sprained ankle playing an unauthorized game of pick-up basketball–or whatever else–then, yeah, there’s been a breach of trust on his part and he could be fined by the team. I’m sure they’d rather not, but business is business and those ankles of Ellis’ are quite valuable.
And like sands through the hourglass, these are the days of our lives.
Related:
- All-Youngin’ Team: NBA’s Best, 21 and Under
- Monta Ellis is NBA’s Most Improved Player
- NBA Front-Row Seat: Monta Ellis, Carmelo Anthony, Dorell Wright, and More
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