The Golden State Warriors have suspended Monta Ellis for 30 games without pay. The suspension comes as a punishment for violating his contract and experiencing the high ankle sprain which will keep him out for probably longer than the 30 games.

The Warriors cited Ellis’ violation of Paragraph 12 of the NBA’s uniform player contract, which prohibits a player from engaging “in any activity that a reasonable person would recognize as involving or exposing the participant to a substantial risk of bodily injury,” including “driving or riding a motorcycle or moped.”

Ellis was involved in a low speed moped accident during the offseason. Although the suspension by the team does not limit the amount of games Ellis will participate in this season, it does cut his pay by about $3 million.

This summer, Monta Ellis signed a lucrative new contract with the Warriors for 6 years, $66 million, coming out to an average of $11 million per season. Hopefully Ellis makes a full recovery and is able to perform at the level that his team expects him to.

The situation of Monta Ellis is similar to that of Vladimir Radmanovic last year when he split his shoulder. Ellis originally came to the team doctors and said his injury occured during a pick up game which would go against his contract. We are yet to see a player have a non basketball related injury and come clean about how it occured. I wonder if he would be punished for it as well. Radmanovic was fined $500,000 by the Lakers. The Warriors knew Ellis’ injury wasn’t basketball related because it was a high ankle sprain that can’t possibly occur during basketball play.

I’m looking forward to seeing Ellis return to shape and show the world that he is capable of leading this team. Now that Baron Davis is gone, this is his chance to make a name for himself at the point guard spot.