As he teammates filed off the court, he fired off smiles and nailed set shots from near the free-throw line while chatting with guard Jamal Crawford, swingman Kelenna Azubuike and assistant coach Keith Smart.

He hardly looked like a player who has been at the epicenter of controversy.

"Got the contract: lovely," Ellis said, breaking down his last six months. "The injury: setback. Now, everything's peaches and cream. You know, I'm walking again, back around my teammates, shooting, about to get back to doing what I love doing."

Ellis is eligible to return to action Dec. 19 in Atlanta, the Warriors' first game after the 30-game suspension the team levied against Ellis ends. However, Ellis' ankle injury will keep him out at least until the end of this month.

Just over a month ago, Ellis who initially lied to the team about how he severely damaged his ankle in August had the NBA Players Association file an appeal on his behalf. Ellis and his agent Jeff Fried contended that Golden State should not be able to reserve the right to terminate Ellis' contract in addition to the suspension, which cost Ellis about $3 million.

But that seemed ancient history Thursday as Ellis smiled before the cameras and tape recorders of the local media. He said has a lot to be happy about.

For starters, he said his beef with Warriors management has expired. Warriors president Robert Rowell told KNBR he hasn't thought much about voiding Ellis' contract down the line, if at all, as he is pleased with Ellis' rehabilitation. Plus, Ellis said he's still beaming about the six-year, $66 million contract he signed.

"I've put that behind me, once it was over with," Ellis said. "It's nothing. It's just like a father-and-son disagreement, and they put it behind each other and come back together."

What's more, Ellis is absolutely certain he'll be back to his old self on the court, though he declined to project when his return will be. He said he's doing some jogging, shooting and balance work.

"Like I said, I'm not focusing on trying to rush back," Ellis said. "I'm focusing on trying to get stronger and get healthy to come back to do what I was doing before I got hurt. ... But I will recover 100 percent and be the same player I was before I left, or even stronger."

Ellis also is looking forward to playing with new backcourt mate Crawford, who is expected to share point-guard duties with Ellis. Ellis went as far as to say he and Crawford would be a more exciting tandem than he and former backcourt mate Baron Davis.

"Because both of us can run," Ellis said. "Not taking nothing from Baron, but both of us like to get up and run up and down the court, get fast-break points. And so, like I said, when I get back it'll be exciting to see us two."

Ellis declined to talk about how he injured his ankle. Though it was reported he injured himself in a moped accident, he has never set the record straight about what happened to cause him to tear the deltoid ligament in his left ankle.

He had previously said he would explain everything once the decision about his punishment was reached.

But none of that seemed to matter to Ellis. After all, the Warriors have won two in a row after losing nine straight, a streak Ellis described as "pretty ugly." He said he plans to start joining the team on the bench and on the road.

"You just sit out and just watch, watch something you love doing, it's really hard," Ellis said. "But, my fans, my teammates, the organization, everybody's been supportive. My family. And, I'm just trying to do everything I can to get back on the court to help my team win. That's it."

Contact Marcus Thompson II at mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com