FOUL PLAY: Ex-Perth Wildcat Mike Ellis on how a clash with coach Murray Arnold led to his NBL retirement

Former Perth Wildcats captain Mike Ellis has revealed a clash with coach Murray Arnold forced him into early retirement when he really wanted to play on for several more years. Ellis announced his retirement with two games remaining in the 1992 season and said he was taking up an opportunity to work as the club’s Executive Basketball Development Officer. The guard was 34 at the time and was closing in on his 300th NBL game. But Ellis told Triple M this week that he had been left with little option other than to walk away. “I retired prematurely,” Ellis said. FOUL PLAY: THE TINY PINDER STORY follows the success of the Perth Wildcats in the 80s and 90s, and investigates star player Tiny Pinder. Watch the documentary 5-part series exclusively at thewest.com.au “I had a disagreement with the coach. He thought I couldn’t play at that level and I thought I could. Unfortunately when he was the coach, he made the decisions on who went on the floor and I wasn’t going to sit there. “I didn’t want to be that player that would sit there and not play and take away a spot from a young kid to get some opportunity and experience. That’s when I retired. “But I thought I had two or three more years left in me. Some of the guys he was playing, I was like I could come out on the floor now and train and still kick your butts.” Ellis, who features in The West Australian’s documentary on Tiny Pinder named Foul Play, had expressed frustration with his lack of game time during the season. His time on the floor was cut in half in the second half of the season. Ironically, the Wildcats sacked the contracted Arnold just weeks after the season ended and replaced him with Adrian Hurley. Hurley lifted the club to the grand final in his first year and then led the team to its third championship in 1995. Ellis won two championships as captain and his jersey has been retired by the club. He later became coach and his brilliant career was recognised with induction into the Basketball WA Hall of Fame last year.