Sep 7, 2008 6:23 am US/Eastern
Warriors' Ellis Admits To Lying About Ankle Injury
SAN JOSE, Calif. (CBS) ―
Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis admitted that he lied about the left ankle injury which most likely will cost him the first three months of the season, according to a report published Saturday.
Citing a team source, the San Jose Mercury-News reported that the Warriors know that the star guard's injury was not sustained "in a gym" and that "it happened outdoors and not while playing basketball."
The 22-year-old Ellis was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, a torn deltoid ligament and a syndesmosis disruption last week.
The newspaper, citing an anonymous source, said that Ellis was scared to tell the truth at first, but eventually did.
According to the Warriors previously, Ellis suffered the injury late last month during a workout in his hometown of Jackson, Mississippi.
Golden State inked Ellis to a six-year, $66 million contract extension during the offseason.
The newspaper said that if he injured his ankle by participating in a prohibited activity, the Warriors can fine or suspend Ellis -- whose contract also could be subject to termination.
A three-year veteran, Ellis averaged a career-high 20.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 53 percent from the floor last season for the Warriors.
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