Dale Ellis is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 17 seasons. He was born on August 6, 1960, in Marietta, Georgia, and attended the University of Tennessee, where he played college basketball for the Volunteers.
Ellis was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 1983 NBA draft, and he played for the Mavericks for three seasons before being traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in 1986. He played for the SuperSonics for four seasons and was named an NBA All-Star in 1989.
In 1991, Ellis was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he played for five seasons. He had some of his best seasons with the Bucks, averaging over 20 points per game in three of his five seasons with the team. He was also named an NBA All-Star in 1993.
After leaving the Bucks, Ellis played for several other teams, including the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, and Charlotte Hornets. He retired from the NBA in 2000 with career averages of 15.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.
Ellis was known for his shooting ability, particularly from beyond the three-point line. He led the NBA in three-point shooting percentage in the 1988-89 season, and he finished his career with a three-point shooting percentage of 40.3%.
In addition to his NBA career, Ellis also played for the United States men's national basketball team in the 1986 FIBA World Championship, where he helped lead the team to a gold medal.
After retiring from basketball, Ellis worked as a color commentator for the SuperSonics and later for the Memphis Grizzlies. He also founded the Dale Ellis Foundation, which provides scholarships and other support to underprivileged youth in the Atlanta area.
Overall, Dale Ellis had a successful career in the NBA, earning multiple All-Star selections and establishing himself as one of the league's top three-point shooters.
🏀