How riding a moped cost former NBA player $3 million

• Monta Ellis, a former Golden State Warriors player, lost a staggering $3 million for riding a moped
• Ellis moped misadventure always reminds athletes that financial prudence should be as much a part of an athlete’s playbook as their skills on the court
• Golden State Warriors suspended him for 30 games for breaching his contract with a moped ride

Professional athletes cut an image of larger-than-life figures, celebrated for their incredible talents on the court. However, their financial fortunes can be as fragile as glass, subject to shattering over the most unexpected incidents. One such cautionary tale is that of Monta Ellis, a former Golden State Warriors player, who lost a staggering $3 million for riding a moped.

Tales of athletes squandering their wealth on imprudent choices are not uncommon in the sporting world. Ellis, however, stands out as a stark example of how an unwise decision can have costly consequences. His moped misadventure serves as a reminder that financial prudence should be as much a part of an athlete’s playbook as their skills on the court.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MONTA ELLIS?

Ellis had a promising start to his NBA career, joining the Golden State Warriors as the 40th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. Straight out of high school, he embarked on a journey to prove himself in the world’s most competitive basketball league. After a relatively quiet rookie year, he burst into the limelight during his sophomore season, earning the Most Improved Player award for the 2006/07 campaign.

Retired NBA player Monta Ellis. Photo/NBC Sports

Ellis’s growth continued, with his scoring average exceeding 20 points per game in the subsequent season. This remarkable performance led to a substantial six-year contract worth over $86 million in July 2008. He had arrived, and the future seemed bright.

Unfortunately, that future took an unexpected and costly turn a month later when Ellis decided to take a ride on a moped, an activity expressly prohibited by the terms of his contract. The contract stipulated that he was not to engage in extracurricular activities involving a “substantial risk of bodily injury.” Riding a motorcycle or moped was explicitly included in this list of prohibited activities.

WHY DID MONTA ELLIS RIDE A MOPED?

Whether Ellis overlooked this critical clause or simply chose to ignore it remains uncertain. In August 2008, he hopped onto the ill-fated moped, setting into motion a chain of events that would have severe repercussions. On the ride, he met with an accident that resulted in a sprained ankle and a torn ligament, necessitating surgery for treatment.

Initially, Ellis attempted to conceal the truth from his team, the Warriors, claiming that the injury occurred while playing pickup basketball during a visit to his hometown in Mississippi. However, this fabricated story couldn’t withstand scrutiny, as a team physician examined the extent of the damage and exposed the falsehood.

WHY DID GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS SUSPEND MONTA ELLIS FOR 30 GAMES?

In response to the violation of his contract, the Warriors announced a 30-game suspension for Ellis, which included four preseason games. This suspension not only served as a disciplinary measure but also had significant financial implications. The team was no longer obligated to pay Ellis for the games he would miss due to the injury resulting from the moped accident. As a result, he forfeited a staggering $3 million, a hefty price for his ill-fated ride.

The Sacramento Kings beat the Golden State Warriors 118-99. Photo/ San Francisco Chronicle.

While Ellis became eligible to return to the court in mid-December, his physical condition did not permit him to play until the latter half of January.  However, his career picked up from there, and he continued to impress with his performance in the seasons that followed. But he was eventually traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2012, subsequently spending time with the Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers before quietly ending his NBA career in 2017.

CONCLUSION

Monta Ellis’s moped mishap is a reminder for all athletes to read and understand the fine print of their lucrative contracts. These contracts come with restrictions and responsibilities that extend beyond the arena, designed to safeguard both the athletes and the teams investing in them.