BEIJING - The three-time CBA runner-up Xinjiang Flying Tigers said on Friday that a lawsuit will be filed against former head coach Bob Donewald.

The Flying Tigers claim Donewald was behind what they've called a fake injury by Australian guard Patrick Mills, who was dismissed by the team earlier this week.

The team also alleges Donewald, who coaches the Chinese national team, violated other team regulations.

Mills, who played for the Portland Trail Blazers last season, was released by Xinjiang on Wednesday after he refused to play due to a "serious hamstring injury".

The injury happened on Dec 23, and the team says an MRI proved he was fully recovered on Dec 30.

Mills said on his Twitter account "It was made clear from the start to EVERYONE that it was a torn hamstring and would take 3-6 weeks (to recover)".

He asked the team to allow him to sit out until the injury had fully healed, but the Flying Tigers had their own ideas.

"The medical examination has shown that he (Mills) is physically recovered, but he still refused to play or even take part in the practice. And we believe Donewald has instigated him to do that in protest of his being fired," the team's statement said.

Mills averaged 26.5 points, 3.8 assists and 2.25 steals during his 12 games with the Flying Tigers. Xinjiang lost three of its four games while Mills was injured.

Donewald was dismissed as head coach on Dec 20 after the team performed below expectations, but retained a spot on the coaching staff.

At the time, team manager Guo Jian said Donewald's $700,000 salary would still be paid.

"Donewald threatened the club that 'some troubles would happen to the team' if he was fired and warned us 'don't forget that I introduced Mills to join' before we decided to release him," Guo said.

Meanwhile, the Flying Tigers alleged Donewald had also violated some other team regulations such as offending the referees, leaving without informing the club and lax management.

The team decided to formally dismiss Donewald from its coaching staff and file a lawsuit against him, though it hasn't shown any evidence of Donewald's potential violation.

China Daily

(China Daily 01/07/2012 page15)