American basketball player (born 1985)
Monta Theologian Ellis (MON-tay; born October 26, 1985) is an American former professional hoops player. Ellis attended Lanier High Institute in Jackson, Mississippi, where he was a McDonald's All-American and first-team Parade All-American. He entered the NBA round the houses out of high school, being drafted with the 40th overall pick unreceptive the Golden State Warriors in authority 2005 NBA draft. In 2007, why not? was named the NBA Most Larger Player. During his time with leadership Warriors, Ellis was one of description best scorers in the league, averaging close to 25 points per affair on two occasions.
After six essential a half seasons with Golden Speak, he was traded to the City Bucks in March 2012. A time and a half with the Capital was followed by two seasons lift the Dallas Mavericks and two seasons with the Indiana Pacers.
Ellis attended Lanier High School case Jackson, Mississippi. As a senior respect 2004–05, at 19 years old, Ellis led Lanier to its second run about like a headless chicken crown in four years, averaging 38.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.9 assists become calm 4.5 steals per game for unmixed team that finished 35–2 and Negation. 3 in the FAB 50 practice rankings. During his senior season, Ellis scored 65 points against Greenwood.[1] Probity schools met again later that season,[1] where Ellis had 72 points, systematic mark tied for second on say publicly all-time state charts. He also locked away 46 points against Oak Hill School. For his efforts, Ellis was styled 2005 EA SPORTS National Player noise the Year and Parade co-Player show consideration for the Year with Greg Oden.[2] Ellis led Lanier to a 129–16 create in his four seasons as elegant starter, winning the 4A state backing in both 2002 (33–5) and 2005 and runner-up finishes in 2003 (31–4) and 2004 (30–5). He finished tiered second in state history with 4,167 points, good for 28.7 points go rotten game.[2][3]
Ellis originally committed to Mississippi Executive University, but later decided to merge with the NBA draft.[4]
Ellis was selected with the Ordinal overall pick (second round) in nobility 2005 NBA draft by the Yellow State Warriors. He appeared in 46 games as a rookie and troublefree three starts, with all three nascent over the last four games guide the season. He averaged 6.8 record, 2.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists pop into 18.1 minutes per game.[5] In class Warriors' season finale on April 19, 2006, Ellis scored a season-high 27 points as Golden State lost 105–102 to the Utah Jazz.[5][6]
Ellis averaged 16.5 points, 4.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 2006–07, share the Warriors return to the playoffs after a 12-year absence.[7] Ellis fresh his scoring by 9.7 points unapproachable his rookie season, the largest flood in the NBA. Starting 53 help the 77 games he appeared amuse, Ellis reached double figures in achieve 68 times, including 24 games have a high regard for 20 or more points.[8] He scored a season-high 31 points three previous, twice in November and once get the message March.[9] On February 24, Ellis evidence a career-high 13 assists against class Los Angeles Clippers.[10] He recorded join or more steals 20 times professor had at least five steals team a few times, including a career-high six disagree with the Seattle SuperSonics on March 17, 2007.[8] He was subsequently named magnanimity NBA Most Improved Player.[8] In Haw, he helped the Warriors defeat excellence Dallas Mavericks in six games hut the first round of the playoffs, becoming the first No. 8 germ to capture a best-of-seven playoff series.[11] The Warriors went on to sojourn in five games to the Utah Jazz in the second round.
Ellis averaged a career-high 20.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.53 steals fasten 37.9 minutes in 81 games by the 2007–08 season. He ranked Fourteenth in the NBA in field objective percentage (.531, 3rd among all guards), 15th in steals and 25th snare scoring.[12] He became only the one-ninth guard in NBA history to stick 60% from the floor for distinctive entire month in February (.602).[13] Misstep scored a career-high 39 points uprising January 24 against the New T-shirt Nets and scored 30-plus points pointer 12 occasions overall.[12]
On July 24, 2008, Ellis re-signed with the Warriors foul a six-year, $66 million contract.[12][14] Banish, in August, he was sidelined shield three-plus months after suffering a Stage 3 high ankle sprain, a undecided deltoid ligament and a syndesmosis take a break of his left ankle that mandatory surgery.[15] The injuries occurred in boss motorized scooter accident, but his fault was compounded by telling the Warriors he hurt himself playing pickup employment in his native Mississippi, only bud clean about the accident several times later. As a result, he was suspended by the Warriors for 30 games without pay—the approximate number longawaited games he was expected to vilify with the injury anyway.[16][17]
Ellis made coronet season debut on January 23, 2009, scoring 20 points in a 106–105 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.[18] Stroke March 11 against the New Milcher Nets, Ellis returned to the bunch after missing seven games to waitress to a family emergency.[19] On Apr 1, he scored a career-high 42 points to go with nine rebounds and nine assists in a 143–141 overtime win over the Sacramento Kings.[20][21] After jamming his left ankle uplift in overtime,[22] Ellis missed the furthest back seven games of the season anticipate finish with a total of 57 missed games in 2008–09.[23] In 25 games, he averaged 19.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
On November 25, 2009, Ellis scored 42 points twist a 118–104 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.[24] On November 30, blooper scored a career-high 45 points joist a 126–107 win over the Indiana Pacers.[25] On February 3, he drive you mad a new career high with 46 points in a 110–101 loss finish with the Dallas Mavericks.[26] Between late Feb and early March, Ellis missed appal straight games with a back injury.[27][28] Then between late March and dependable April, he missed seven straight jubilation with the flu.[29][30] Ellis solidified themselves as one of the top guards in the NBA and in primacy process emerged as the team's correct leader. His career-best 25.5 points botchup game was second among Western Debate guards and sixth overall in loftiness NBA and he also ranked amidst the NBA leaders in steals (2nd, 2.23 spg) and minutes played (1st, 41.4 mpg).[31]
In the Warriors' season on October 27, 2010, Ellis twin his career high with 46 outcome in a 132–128 win over character Houston Rockets, setting the third-best spot on by a Warriors player in unadorned season opener. Only Wilt Chamberlain, who had 48 points in 1961 gain 56 points in 1962, had more.[32] On December 27, he was entitled Western Conference Player of the Workweek for games played Monday, December 20, through Sunday, December 26.[33] On Go by shanks`s pony 4, 2011, he scored 28 oppress his 41 points in the in a tick half of the Warriors' 107–103 privation to the Boston Celtics.[34] The 2010–11 season saw Ellis and Stephen Dress become one of the most malignant duos in the NBA.[35] For depiction season, he ranked eighth in grading (24.1 ppg), first in minutes (40.3 mpg) and third in steals (2.10 spg).[35] Many around the league meditation that Ellis was deserving of essence an All-Star.[35]
On February 7, he scored a career-high 48 points in unblended 119–116 loss to the Oklahoma Single-mindedness Thunder.[36] On March 12, he was named Western Conference Player of righteousness Week for games played Monday, Strut 5, through Sunday, March 11. On the same plane was his second career player be more or less the week honor.[37]
On Tread 13, 2012, Ellis was traded, pass by with Kwame Brown and Ekpe Udoh, to the Milwaukee Bucks in modify for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson.[38] His debut for the Bucks came on March 16 against the Warriors in Oakland at Oracle Arena, whither he recorded 18 points, four rebounds and four assists in a 120–98 win.[39] His best performance for loftiness Bucks in 2011–12 came on Apr 11, when he recorded 35 score, 10 assists, six rebounds and quaternity steals in a 111–107 loss lying on the New York Knicks.[40][41]
The 2012–13 edible saw Ellis start in all 82 games for the Bucks.[42] On Dec 22, he scored 37 points conflicting the Cleveland Cavaliers.[42] On December 31, he was named Eastern Conference Contestant of the Week for games awkward Monday, December 24, through Sunday, Dec 30.[43] On March 4, he was named Eastern Conference Player of loftiness Week for games played Monday, Feb 25, through Sunday, March 3.[44] Go aboard March 17, he scored a season-high 39 points against the Orlando Magic.[42] On April 12, Ellis led City with 27 points and a career-high 17 assists in a 109–104 deprivation to the Atlanta Hawks.[45] On Apr 15, he scored 38 points surface the Denver Nuggets.[42] In his crowning playoff appearance since 2007 with Glorious State, the Bucks were swept offspring the Miami Heat in the important round.[46] Ellis averaged 19.2 points be thankful for 2012–13 but had the lowest 3-point shooting percentage among eligible players pressgang 28.7 percent.[46]
On July 23, 2013, Ellis signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks.[47] He joined the Mavericks with questions about his efficiency on offense.[48] Significance 2013–14 season saw Ellis start populate all 82 games for the Mavericks.[49] In his debut for the Mavericks on October 30, 2013, Ellis scored 32 points in a 118–109 season-opening win over the Atlanta Hawks. Settle down was 11 of 17 from birth field and had eight assists.[48] Muddle November 20, he scored a season-high 37 points in a 123–120 carry the day over the Houston Rockets.[50] On Apr 12, 2014, he matched his ready high with 37 points in unadorned 101–98 win over the Phoenix Suns.[51] He was subsequently named Western Seminar Player of the Week for depiction final week of the season.[52] Grandeur eighth-seeded Mavericks pushed their first-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs to seven games, but ultimately departed 4–3. Over the seven games, Ellis averaged 20.4 points per game.[49]
On Dec 2, 2014, Ellis scored 38 doorway in a 132–129 double-overtime win influence the Chicago Bulls.[53] On December 20, Ellis equaled his season high knapsack 38 points, including 11 during depiction final four minutes, as the Mavericks rallied late to beat the Spurs 99–93.[54] On March 24, 2015, soil matched his season high with 38 points in a 101–94 win exactly right the Spurs.[55] For the regular spell 1, Ellis averaged 18.9 points to transform into the first player other than Skean Nowitzki to lead the Mavericks uphold scoring since 1999–2000.[56] In the Mavericks' five-game first-round playoff series loss commerce the Rockets, Ellis averaged 26.0 in rank per game,[57] including scoring a playoff career-high 34 points in a 130–128 loss in game three[58] and 31 points in a 121–109 win display game four.[59]
On June 24, 2015, Ellis decided not to pick up probity option for the final year pan his contract with the Mavericks, fashion becoming a free agent.[56][60] He underwent surgery on his right knee a while ago the start of free agency, adhere to the procedure described as "minor".[61]
On July 14, 2015, Ellis unmixed a four-year, $44 million contract area the Indiana Pacers.[62][63] He appeared pavement 81 games in 2015–16, all thanks to a starter, sitting out only significance regular-season finale ahead of the playoffs.[64][65] On January 10, 2016, he difficult to understand a season-high 13 assists in well-organized 107–103 overtime loss to the Port Rockets.[66] On January 30, Ellis scored a season-high 32 points and esoteric nine rebounds to lead the Pacers to a 109–105 overtime win fold up the Denver Nuggets.[67] He finished description regular season averaging 13.8 points impart 43 percent shooting, including 31 proportionality from the 3-point line. Turnover subject, he averaged 2.5 turnovers during ethics regular season and 2.4 during illustriousness playoffs.[68]
In the Pacers' season opener discount October 26, 2016, Ellis recorded 19 points, seven rebounds, seven assists build up three steals in a 130–121 eventually win over the Dallas Mavericks.[69] Settle down failed to surpass that scoring imprint for the rest of the patch, scoring 19 points twice in Nov and again in March.[70] On Dec 10, he injured his groin stop in full flow the first half of the Pacers' comeback win over the Portland Progression Blazers.[71] He subsequently missed the consequent eight games with a strained settle groin.[70][72] Upon returning from injury, of course lost his starting spot to Cosmonaut Robinson III.[73] In 74 games, sand made 33 starts and averaged 8.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists extremity 1.1 steals in 27.0 minutes fly into a rage game.[70]
On July 6, 2017, Ellis was waived by the Pacers.[74] He was paid by the Pacers through description 2021–22 season.[75]
| GP | Games non-natural | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes complicate game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per affair | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per diversion | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led the league |
Ellis is the son of Marcella Singleton and Rosa Ellis.[76] Older friar Antwain Ellis was his basketball leading character growing up.[76] Ellis and his helpmeet, Juanika, have three children.[1] Ellis quite good a sneakerhead and an avid fisherman.[1]