THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors are suing Spanish basketball for non-payment of insurance on Jorge Garbajosa.
The Raptors filed a statement of claim on Friday against the Spanish Basketball Federation.
"It is unfortunate that we’ve reached this point," Raptors officials said in a statement. "The matter is now before the courts. Therefore we will respect the court process and not comment further while the matter is ongoing."
The Raptors forward injured his left leg and ankle in a gruesome crash last March that ended his rookie season.
He returned to play for Spain in last summer’s world championships against Toronto’s wishes. The Raptors finally gave Garbajosa the green light after the Spanish federation took out a US$1-million insurance policy.
Garbajosa averaged 8.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in his rookie season before snapping his tibia and dislocating his ankle in a crash in Boston last spring. He underwent surgery immediately after.
He played the first seven games of this season, but was placed on injured reserve after an MRI on his leg in November showed something abnormal.
Garbajosa had surgery in Baltimore in December on his left leg in a procedure to strengthen his leg.
