Robin Miller
08-28-2008, 01:35 PM
Warriors' Ellis out three months
By Marcus Thompson II
Staff writer
08/27/2008 01:48:43 PM PDT
The Warriors have now lost two starting point guards this summer.
First Baron Davis opted out of his contract and signed with the Los Angeles
Clippers. Now, Monta Ellis, Davis' replacement, has been lost to injury for
a minimum of three months.
Ellis, who signed a six-year, $66 million contract extension last month, had
surgery Wednesday to repair a torn ligament in his left ankle, the Warriors
confirmed. He hurt his ankle working out in his hometown, Jackson, Miss.
The initial hope was that it was a high ankle sprain when Ellis, 22,
informed the team late last week. But the diagnosis turned out more severe.
"This is obviously a temporary setback for our team, but fortunately it is
not something that is season-ending," coach Don Nelson said. "On the
positive side, we're dealing with a young kid who should recover nicely. I'm
sure Monta will work hard during his rehabilitation and we'll utilize our
roster during the first part of the season to try and make up for his loss."
According to a release put out by the Warriors this afternoon, Ellis
sustained a Grade 3 high ankle sprain, a torn deltoid ligament and
disruption of the ankle syndesmosis (ligaments above the ankle joint). The
surgery was successfully performed this morning by Dr. Angus McBride of the
Andrew Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Ala.
Ellis will be out until December, at the earliest. His ankle will need to be
immobilized for six weeks, followed by six weeks of light work on the side.
At that point, he will be evaluated to see if he can return to full-contact
practice and then a date for his return can be approximated.
Having missed all of training camp, preseason and the first month of the
season, Ellis figures to need additional time to get into game shape.
Marcus Williams, who was acquired from New Jersey in a trade last month, is
expected to be the front-runner to start at point guard while Ellis is
sidelined.
Ellis, entering his fourth season since jumping to the NBA from Lanier High
School, has proved durable despite his slight frame (6-foot-3, 180 pounds)
and history of knee injuries. When he has gotten hurt, he has bounced back
quickly. Ellis missed a total of six games the last two seasons.
This is the third consecutive season Ellis has gotten hurt before the start
of a season, but this time is by far the most severe. Last season, he
injured his neck in a nasty collision in training camp. He was carried off
the court and taken to the hospital, but it turned out to be just a sprain.
In 2006, he injured his knee in Las Vegas during a summer league practice.
What was thought to be a possible ligament tear turned out to be a bruise.
Contact Marcus Thompson II at mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com.
By Marcus Thompson II
Staff writer
08/27/2008 01:48:43 PM PDT
The Warriors have now lost two starting point guards this summer.
First Baron Davis opted out of his contract and signed with the Los Angeles
Clippers. Now, Monta Ellis, Davis' replacement, has been lost to injury for
a minimum of three months.
Ellis, who signed a six-year, $66 million contract extension last month, had
surgery Wednesday to repair a torn ligament in his left ankle, the Warriors
confirmed. He hurt his ankle working out in his hometown, Jackson, Miss.
The initial hope was that it was a high ankle sprain when Ellis, 22,
informed the team late last week. But the diagnosis turned out more severe.
"This is obviously a temporary setback for our team, but fortunately it is
not something that is season-ending," coach Don Nelson said. "On the
positive side, we're dealing with a young kid who should recover nicely. I'm
sure Monta will work hard during his rehabilitation and we'll utilize our
roster during the first part of the season to try and make up for his loss."
According to a release put out by the Warriors this afternoon, Ellis
sustained a Grade 3 high ankle sprain, a torn deltoid ligament and
disruption of the ankle syndesmosis (ligaments above the ankle joint). The
surgery was successfully performed this morning by Dr. Angus McBride of the
Andrew Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Ala.
Ellis will be out until December, at the earliest. His ankle will need to be
immobilized for six weeks, followed by six weeks of light work on the side.
At that point, he will be evaluated to see if he can return to full-contact
practice and then a date for his return can be approximated.
Having missed all of training camp, preseason and the first month of the
season, Ellis figures to need additional time to get into game shape.
Marcus Williams, who was acquired from New Jersey in a trade last month, is
expected to be the front-runner to start at point guard while Ellis is
sidelined.
Ellis, entering his fourth season since jumping to the NBA from Lanier High
School, has proved durable despite his slight frame (6-foot-3, 180 pounds)
and history of knee injuries. When he has gotten hurt, he has bounced back
quickly. Ellis missed a total of six games the last two seasons.
This is the third consecutive season Ellis has gotten hurt before the start
of a season, but this time is by far the most severe. Last season, he
injured his neck in a nasty collision in training camp. He was carried off
the court and taken to the hospital, but it turned out to be just a sprain.
In 2006, he injured his knee in Las Vegas during a summer league practice.
What was thought to be a possible ligament tear turned out to be a bruise.
Contact Marcus Thompson II at mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com.