Before Stephen Curry there was Monta Ellis; Where is he now?
OAKLAND, Calif. (BVM) – The Golden State Warriors’ run over the past decade has put them in rare company, achieving feats just a handful of teams in NBA history have been able to accomplish. The lead up to those dominating groups, however, didn’t always come with the same level of NBA success.
Through the mid-1990s and early-2000s, the Warriors went 12 straight seasons spanning from 1995-2006 without a playoff appearance. With no Stephen Curry, no Klay Thompson and no Draymond Green, Golden State fans clung to the likes of Antawn Jamison, Jason Richardson and the original sharpshooter, Monta Ellis. Alongside Richardson and point guard Baron Davis, the 6-foot-3 shooting guard helped return a buzz to the Oracle Arena that had been missing for some time.
Entering as an under-the-radar draft selection, Ellis endeared himself to Bay Area fans, becoming the perfect lead up to an upcoming dynasty.
Everybody just forgot about Monta Ellis pic.twitter.com/go2SaMaxdg
— Ben Stinar (@BenStinar) January 3, 2021
Monta Ellis’ high school career
Ellis grew up in Mississippi and attended Lanier High School in Jackson. There, he helped the Bulldogs to two state championships in four seasons behind an impressive 129-16 total record. In his senior campaign, the Jackson native enjoyed a monumental final run en route to the team’s 35-2 record in 2005, averaging 38.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 4.5 steals.
After the 2005 season that included EA SPORTS National Player of the Year honors, Ellis decided to forgo his college commitment to Mississippi State University and entered his name into the NBA draft. Ellis was part of the last class to be able to make the move directly from the high school level as the NBA changed the eligibility rules for the following year.
Monta Ellis’ NBA career
Ellis was selected with the 40th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. With three experienced guards in front of him on the roster in Davis, Richardson, and Derek Fisher, Ellis found time off the bench his opening year averaging 18.1 minutes per game and 6.8 points.
Even with the Warriors’ disappointing season, Ellis was a novel surprise entering his second year. As Golden State looked to take a step forward, so did the young guard who began the campaign with an increased role without Fisher on the roster. With more opportunity came the chance for Ellis to show his true skillset as he went on to average 16.5 points, 4.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals during the 2006-07 season. The scoring barrage helped solidify a solid offensive season for the Warriors, who returned back to the NBA playoffs for the first time in 12 seasons.
After a first–round upset over the No. 1-seeded Dallas Mavericks, who were fresh of an NBA Finals appearance the year before, Golden State found themselves matched up against the Utah Jazz. Ellis wouldn’t be allowed the opportunity to match his season-long play as he found limited time off the bench in the series. The Warriors would go on to take just one game in the Western Conference Semifinals as Utah moved on following Game 5.
With his introduction to the NBA as a starter, Ellis continued his positive trajectory in 2007-08 where he averaged over 20 points per game. Golden State, however, would narrowly miss the playoffs in a loaded Western Conference that season, ending as the No. 9 team. Following the departure of Davis after the campaign, and Richardson the year before, Ellis became the team’s lead guard. With the hope that Ellis could take over the reins, the Warriors wouldn’t quite find the necessary success as Golden State tallied just 29 wins in guard’s fourth season.
The down year would lead to the selection of Stephen Curry in the 2009 NBA Draft, creating the beginning of the end of Ellis’ time in the Bay Area. As Ellis averaged over 25.5 points in Curry’s opening season, and 24.1 the following year, the Warriors guard would quickly find himself on the outside looking in as the team aimed to prop up the former Davidson College star. With similar play styles, the Warriors needed just two and a half seasons to change directions as they focused on pairing Curry with a better perimeter defender.
To the fans’ dismay, Ellis was traded during the 2011-12 trade deadline, along with Ekpe Udoh, to the Milwaukee Bucks for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson – who was quickly sent to the San Antonio Spurs shortly after for forward Richard Jefferson.
Ellis would go on to play two seasons with the Bucks before signing a contract with the Dallas Mavericks in 2012. In both seasons with the Bucks and Mavericks, Ellis continued to shine on the offensive end averaging nearly 19 points in all four seasons.
At age 30, Ellis would go on to sign with the Indiana Pacers, but the former star guard would never find his footing on the offensive end. Lasting just two seasons, Ellis’ run in the NBA would come to a close. Ellis never officially retired but his last season in the NBA came following the 2016-17 campaign.
Monta Ellis’ net worth, career earnings and personal life
In 13 NBA seasons, Monta Ellis accrued over $100 million and currently has an estimated net worth of $31 million.
In 2021, Ellis returned to his alma mater at Lanier High School, where the school honored his time on the basketball court by retiring his jersey. Ellis continues to stay around the game and has passed the sport on to his son. He and his wife, Juanika, have two children. The former pro guard is still hoping to return to the NBA level after trying to land on a roster last season.
“I believe I still have a lot in my tank. I can still play five years,” Ellis told Empire Sports Media.
“My main thing is, just bring me in and give me a look,” Ellis said. “Like you could make the decision on me. I just want a shot. I ain’t asking for a contract to get $5 million, $10 million, or even $1 million. All I’m asking is give me a look. That’s all and let my game speak for itself. I just want an opportunity, a workout, and that’s not the end of the world, that’s not gonna hurt anybody.”
It would have been interesting to see Ellis alongside Curry during the team’s recent playoff success, but the former NBA standout may still get another shot at the highest level. Ellis is hoping the book is still wide open when it comes to the future of his NBA career.
