30 Greatest Dallas Mavericks players in franchise history

27. Monta Ellis

Ellis was a known commodity before he arrived in Dallas in 2013. The 6’3 guard was an elite scorer that had averaged over 19 points per game for seven straight years, but his defense and shot selection were question marks. He had played eight years in the NBA before coming to the Mavs and his teams made the playoffs just twice. The Warriors traded Ellis during Stephen Curry’s second year, and they advanced to the second of the playoffs the following season.

Ellis quickly changed that narrative with the Mavericks. Dallas had missed the playoffs for the first time since 2000 just before the 6’3 guard arrived, and he had arguably the best season of his career playing next to Dirk Nowitzki. Ellis averaged 19.0 points, 5.7 assists, and 1.7 steals as he shot 45.1 percent from the field. The Mavs were back in the playoffs and lost a seven-game series to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs.

Ellis still produce massive numbers in his second season in Dallas, but problems began to arise. It was not long before he was looking for a new home. The Mavs got bounced in the first round by the Rockets, and Ellis headed to the Pacers in free agency.

Still, he was a key piece of the Dallas Mavericks' bounce back after a disappointing 2012-13 campaign, and the 19.0 points per game that he averaged in his two seasons is the ninth-most in franchise history.