Dale Ellis (born August 6, 1960) is an American former professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

player who played in the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

(NBA). At various points in his career, Ellis held the record for the most career 3-point field goals made, until

Reggie Miller Reginald Wayne Miller (born August 24, 1965) is an American former professional basketball player who List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise, played his entire 18-year career in the National Basketball Assoc ...

surpassed him. His 1,719 career made three-pointers ranked 2nd in NBA history at the time of his retirement, and rank 34th in NBA history as of January 2025.

Playing career

After his time at the

University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (or The University of Tennessee; UT; UT Knoxville; or colloquially UTK or Tennessee) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee, United St ...

, Ellis was selected ninth overall in the 1983 NBA draft by the

Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks (often referred to as the Mavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Divisi ...

. His time as a

shooting guard The shooting guard (SG), also known as the two, two guard or off guard,Shooting guards are 6'3"–6'7"BBC Sports academy URL last accessed 2006-09-09. is one of the five traditional basketball positions, positions in a regulation basketball game ...

with the Mavericks was rather unremarkable as he played scant minutes and was often relegated to sitting on the bench. Ellis' fortunes changed dramatically after he found himself traded to the Seattle SuperSonics for Al Wood on July 23, 1986. His playing time increased significantly, and his regular season scoring average reflected this as it jumped from 7.1 points per game with the Mavericks to 24.9 points per game with the SuperSonics. In his Seattle debut, Ellis scored 23 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in a 127–110 win over the Trail Blazers. Ellis' rise with the SuperSonics was recognized around the league, which awarded him the

NBA Most Improved Player Award The NBA's Most Improved Player (MIP) is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given to the player who has shown the most progress during the regular season compared to previous seasons. The winner is selected by a panel of sportsw ...

in 1987. Ellis continued to star for the SuperSonics in the late 1980s. He became the first player in NBA history to complete two four-point plays in one game in a win against the

Sacramento Kings The Sacramento Kings are an American professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California. The Kings compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Confere ...

on January 26, 1988. His scoring average peaked at 27.5 points per game during the 1988–89 season, which would be a career high. That season, on January 5, Ellis scored 49 points in a 120–106 victory over the Kings. The 2,253 points he scored that season broke Spencer Haywood's franchise record of 2,251. Ellis was selected to the

NBA All-Star Game The National Basketball Association All-Star Game is the annual all-star game hosted each February by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and showcases 24 of the league's All-star, star players. Since 2022, it was held on the third Sunday of ...

during the same season, and scored 27 points for the West. Despite success in Seattle, Ellis' tenure was tumultuous, and included a drunk driving incident in which he was hospitalized, a fist fight with teammate Xavier McDaniel, and a bizarre fight between Ellis' wife, Monique Ellis, and Alton Lister's wife. In all, Ellis spent four and a half seasons with the SuperSonics before once again being traded, this time to the

Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...

for Ricky Pierce. While he was again a bench player with the Bucks, his minutes still remained relatively high and Ellis still made large contributions to the team with his scoring ability. Following the conclusion of the 91–92 season, he found himself traded to the

San Antonio Spurs The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA ...

for Tracy Murray. As a member of the Spurs, Ellis once again found himself in the starting lineup playing slightly more minutes than he did as a Buck. Although his production largely remained the same, he was doing it more efficiently, shooting nearly 50% from the field as opposed to 46% with Milwaukee. After signing with the

Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are an American professional basketball team based in Denver. The Nuggets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (NBA), Northwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA), W ...

, and then later in his career traded to the SuperSonics once again, the

Orlando Magic The Orlando Magic are an American professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. The Magic compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NB ...

(for whom he never played), again to the Bucks, and the

Charlotte Hornets The Charlotte Hornets are an American professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Hornets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. The team ...

, he saw a more reduced playing role. The Hornets traded him to the

Miami Heat The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern C ...

after the 1999–2000 season; but was waived prior to the start of the next season. Ellis played in 1,209 games and had career averages of 15.7 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, a .479 field goal percentage, and a .403 three point field goal percentage. He set the NBA record for most minutes played in a single game when he scored 53 points in 69 minutes (out of a possible 73) for the SuperSonics in a 155–154 quintuple-overtime loss to the Bucks on November 9, 1989. His 1,719 career made three-pointers ranked second in NBA history at the time of his retirement.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

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Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

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, 72 , , 4 , , 18.3 , , .454 , , .385 , , .740 , , 3.3 , , .8 , , .6 , , .1 , , 9.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 72 , , 1 , , 15.1 , , .411 , , .364 , , .720 , , 2.3 , , .5 , , .6 , , .1 , , 7.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

, 82 , , 76 , , 37.5 , , .516 , , .358 , , .787 , , 5.5 , , 2.9 , , 1.3 , , .4 , , 24.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 75 , , 73 , , 37.2 , , .503 , , .413 , , .767 , , 4.5 , , 2.6 , , 1.0 , , .1 , , 25.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 82 , , 82 , , 38.9 , , .501 , , .478 , , .816 , , 4.2 , , 2.0 , , 1.3 , , .3 , , 27.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 55 , , 49 , , 37.0 , , .497 , , .375 , , .818 , , 4.3 , , 2.0 , , 1.1 , , .1 , , 23.5 , - , style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2, , style="text-align:left;",

, 30 , , 24 , , 26.7 , , .463 , , .303 , , .738 , , 3.1 , , 2.1 , , 1.1 , , .1 , , 15.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

, 21 , , 0 , , 29.7 , , .486 , , .441 , , .707 , , 3.9 , , 1.5 , , .8 , , .2 , , 19.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 81 , , 11 , , 27.0 , , .469 , , .419 , , .774 , , 3.1 , , 1.3 , , .7 , , .2 , , 15.7 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

San Antonio San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...

, 82 , , 76 , , 33.3 , , .499 , , .401 , , .797 , , 3.8 , , 1.3 , , 1.0 , , .2 , , 16.7 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 77 , , 75 , , 33.6 , , .494 , , .395 , , .776 , , 3.3 , , 1.0 , , .9 , , .1 , , 15.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Denver Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

, 81 , , 3 , , 24.6 , , .453 , , .403 , , .866 , , 2.7 , , .7 , , .5 , , .1 , , 11.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 81 , , 52 , , 32.4 , , .479 , , .412 , , .760 , , 3.9 , , 1.7 , , .7 , , .1 , , 14.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 82 , , 51 , , 35.9 , , .414 , , .364 , , .817 , , 3.6 , , 2.0 , , .7 , , .1 , , 16.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 79 , , 0 , , 24.5 , , .497 , , style="background:#cfecec;", .464* , , .782 , , 2.3 , , 1.1 , , .8 , , .1 , , 11.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 48 , , 5 , , 25.7 , , .441 , , .433 , , .757 , , 2.4 , , .8 , , .5 , , .1 , , 10.3 , - , style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2, , style="text-align:left;",

, 18 , , 0 , , 18.0 , , .465 , , .354 , , .667 , , 1.9 , , .3 , , .3 , , .0 , , 6.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", Charlotte , 24 , , 5 , , 10.0 , , .328 , , .400 , , .750 , , .9 , , .3 , , .3 , , .0 , , 2.3 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 1,209 , , 589 , , 28.8 , , .479 , , .403 , , .784 , , 3.5 , , 1.4 , , .8 , , .2 , , 15.7 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", All-Star , 1 , , 1 , , 26.0 , , .750 , , 1.000 , , 1.000 , , 6.0 , , 2.0 , , .0 , , .0 , , 27.0

Playoffs

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1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...

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, 8 , , – , , 22.3 , , .325 , , .083 , , .750 , , 5.3 , , .5 , , 1.3 , , .3 , , 7.4 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1985 The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** The Internet's Domain Name System is created. ** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a n ...

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, 4 , , 1 , , 17.0 , , .435 , , .400 , , .500 , , 1.8 , , .8 , , 1.0 , , .0 , , 5.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1986 , style="text-align:left;",

, 7 , , 0 , , 9.6 , , .409 , , .583 , , 1.000 , , 1.0 , , .3 , , .3 , , .3 , , 4.3 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1987 Events January * January 1 – Bolivia reintroduces the Boliviano currency. * January 2 – Chadian–Libyan conflict – Battle of Fada: The Military of Chad, Chadian army destroys a Libyan armoured brigade. * January 3 – Afghan leader ...

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, 14 , , 14 , , 37.9 , , .487 , , .361 , , .815 , , 6.4 , , 2.6 , , .7 , , .4 , , 25.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", 1988 , style="text-align:left;",

, 5 , , 5 , , 34.4 , , .482 , , .250 , , .724 , , 4.6 , , 3.0 , , .6 , , .4 , , 20.8 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1989 1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...

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, 8 , , 8 , , 38.0 , , .450 , , .405 , , .727 , , 4.0 , , 1.3 , , 1.4 , , .1 , , 22.9 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1993 The United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1993 as: * International Year for the World's Indigenous People The year 1993 in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands had only 364 days, since its ...

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, 10 , , 10 , , 30.5 , , .451 , , .313 , , .813 , , 3.5 , , 1.1 , , .4 , , .0 , , 12.5 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...

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, 4 , , 4 , , 28.5 , , .395 , , .294 , , .600 , , 2.5 , , .3 , , .8 , , .0 , , 10.5 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1995 1995 was designated as: * United Nations Year for Tolerance * World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...

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, 3 , , 0 , , 24.3 , , .357 , , .308 , , .923 , , 4.7 , , 1.0 , , .7 , , .3 , , 12.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

, style="text-align:left;",

, 10 , , 0 , , 17.0 , , .377 , , .423 , , .833 , , 1.3 , , .6 , , .2 , , .0 , , 5.6 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 73 , , 42 , , 27.1 , , .443 , , .351 , , .784 , , 3.7 , , 1.3 , , .7 , , .2 , , 13.8

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, Dale 1960 births Living people 20th-century African-American sportsmen 20th-century American sportsmen 21st-century African-American sportsmen 21st-century American sportsmen All-American college men's basketball players American men's basketball players Basketball players from Marietta, Georgia Charlotte Hornets players Dallas Mavericks draft picks Dallas Mavericks players Denver Nuggets players Miami Heat personnel Milwaukee Bucks players NBA All-Stars Orlando Magic personnel Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball) San Antonio Spurs players Seattle SuperSonics players Shooting guards Small forwards Tennessee Volunteers basketball players

Playing career

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

References

External links