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Oklahoma City Thunder: 25 Best Players To Play For The Thunder

By Phil Watson

May 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; General view of t-shirts lining the seats before the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors in game six of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; General view of t-shirts lining the seats before the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors in game six of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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LOS ANGELES - 1990: Dale Ellis #3 of the Seattle Supersonics looks to pass while defended by Michael Cooper #21 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1989-1990 NBA season game at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ken Levine/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – 1990: Dale Ellis #3 of the Seattle Supersonics looks to pass while defended by Michael Cooper #21 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1989-1990 NBA season game at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ken Levine/Getty Images) /

1986-91, 1997-99. Dale Ellis. 12. player. 149. Trade, Dallas Mavericks, July 23, 1986; Trade, Denver Nuggets, Oct. 2, 1997.. SG-SF

Dale Ellis hadn’t done a lot to distinguish himself as an NBA player before he was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics by the Dallas Mavericks in July 1986, with Al Wood going to Dallas in return.

Consider him distinguished afterward.

OKC_12_ELLIS
OKC_12_ELLIS /

Ellis was the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 1986-87 and was an All-Star in 1989 and an All-NBA pick in 1988-89.

He was second in the NBA in three-pointers in 1988-89 and third in both 1986-87 and 1987-88, while placing second in three-point shooting in 1988-89. Ellis also finished third in the NBA in scoring that season.

In February 1991, Ellis was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Ricky Pierce.

That wasn’t the end for Lamar Mundane in the Emerald City, however, as he was reacquired in October 1997 from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Greg Graham, Steve Scheffler and second-round picks in 1998 and 1999.

Ellis led the NBA in three-point shooting in 1997-98 and placed fifth in 1998-99.

He was dealt away the second time on draft night in 1999, sent with Don MacLean, Billy Owens and the rights to 13th overall pick Corey Maggette to the Orlando Magic for Horace Grant and second-round picks in 2000 and 2001.

In parts of seven seasons with Seattle, Ellis averaged 20.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 33.4 minutes per game, shooting .498/.418/.790.

He was a two-time All-American at Tennessee, averaging 22.6 points and 6.5 rebounds as a senior.

Ellis was the ninth overall pick by the Mavericks in the 1983 NBA Draft.

After leaving Seattle the first time, he was traded in July 1992 to the San Antonio Spurs and signed with the Nuggets as a free agent in October 1994.

In August 1999, Ellis was dealt back to Milwaukee and in January 2000, he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets.

Ellis was swapped to the Miami Heat in August 2000, but was waived in October of that year and retired without playing for them.

He is 33rd in NBA history with 1,209 games, 14th with 1,719 three-pointers and 27th with a three-point percentage of .403.

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