Underrated Seasons - All Star Dale Ellis 1988-89

27.5 ppg

   Dale Ellis.   After some introspective thinking and some follow up research to conclude my gut feeling about how solid and consistent the wiry and clutch 6'7" Ellis truly became an elite Shooting Guard in Seattle and he's rarely mentioned with the greats. Athleticism wasn't his strong suit but he became a solid team defender and smart overall player and scorer.

We've all heard about the old timers and history books. In New age hoops there are rare times where they simply don't discuss certain players or teams as much as others. Back before social media it was up to ESPN and the newspaper sports section. 

But when someone asks"rank your top 5 or 10 shooting guards ever" or just "top SG NBA players over the years. While he's not Michael Jordan he definitely should be discussed more as a player of history.

Dale Ellis was drafted to the Mavericks abd spent his first 3 years as a 6th man type of role producing some points off the bench. With averages of 8.3 points a game he seemed like an average NBA player. But deeper analytics show his effuciejcy and in Dallas played 16-18 minutes a night those 3 seasons. 

Then he becomes a Seattle Supersonic and is given the starting SG spot as he is now the go to man on offense. Breaking out his 4th season cane as a big surprise. 86-87 proved to show Dale Ellis as the NBA's Most improved Player award averaging 24.9ppg 5.5rpg 2.9apg with 1.3spg in 37 minutes a night. He sure broke out in 87, shooting 52% from the field. 

Nobody averages 25+points a night for a season unless they're elite. Shooting 50% while doing so is only more impressive. While helping your team win and become a contender over the next few seasons. 

Dale Ellis kicks off the 88-89 season scoring 44

points on opening night, leading this squad to 45 wins and a playoff series win over the Rockets, Ellis quietly had the best year of his career. 

Finally, the elite guard is finally in his first All-star Game. Apparently this would be his only appearance. The 27.5ppg average as a top 5 scorer in the league tacking on 4.2rpg, 2.0apg, and 1.3spg. What's more impressive? He shot over 50% for the season, 48% from three and 82%FT. He's in my 50-40-80 club, jusy shy of 90%FT company. But the shooting club with 80%FT is still very exclusive. 

In his one All star Game he had 27 points in 26 minutes. I'd say the shooter showed he belonged with the stars. 

Dale looked like the best shooter in the all-star game. He followed the season with a replica performance, only he was not a 1990 all star. In 89 he lead the Sonics with a 19.7 PER (a career peak) and lead them to the playoffs leading by almost 2X more than a teammate with his 10.2 win shares, with teammates Cage, Mcmillan, Mcdaniels all 4-6 win shares a piece. 

He was the alpha. He took an average 5.6 FTA's that season cobverting 82%. Dale took 4.1 treys a game and made 2.1 a game. When you're volume shooting over 50% from three your a stud. Just because he's an averag

e defender doesn't mean he's a bad defender. When you expend that much energy on offense your rest is in spots. 

He scored in double figures in every game of this 82 game season. He made 162 threes for the season before taking threes at a high rate was acceptable.  He was a guy that broke the mold. He was 2nd in made threes and 3rd in scoring per game. 

The Sonics are a 45 win team as Ellis helps then defeat the Houston Rockets and Hakeem in the playoffs only to lose to the Lakers dynasty.  

This was All before Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. Seattle's had one of the best shooting guards to play and is rarely even brought up when the Sonics come up. He lead them to 45 wins as the alpha, he put up 27.5pts on 51%FG and a 48% FG3. That's 10.2 win shares of the 45 they had. 

Simply put. He was responsible for their 5th ranked team offense. He made it easy on McMillan to average assists. He spread the floor, but treys, pulled up midrange, attack the hoop, D up on his man, having a huge positive impact offensively while also being neutral to a plus on defense. 

So, my point? Kevin Martin had a great career playing worse defense and hit so many great shots in so many bad seasons. Kmart averaged 25+ once or twice, but never shot 50%FG or simply constantly hurt the defense. 

All-star guard Dale Ellis truly played like an MVP in 1989. I know 10.2 Win Shares isn't nuts, but it's based on only 45 wins. Him leading them past Hakeem and the Rockets to round 2 of the playoffs is something Kevin Martin never did as the alpha. Hell, Tmac, Eddie Jones, Bradley Beal, Mitch Richmond, and similar shooting guards never played alpha on a 2nd round playoff team. 

Why don't we talk about Dale like the other players named in this article. He's arguably a top 10 shooting guard and top 50-100 player ever... Or debates can be had about his level. The 89 season was remarkable. Only 11 games of the 82 he didn't score at least 20 points. None of those 11 games was he ever single digits with a median of 16. The other 71 games he scored 20 to 49 points nightly. 

Let's all remember Dale Ellis was almost the 89's top 5 or so MVP vote getting player. 

 

I'm sure his fall off after 1991 to 15-18ppg and aged well. butwas never an A list player by the NBA. He simply played his game and is I've if the miss most deserving 1 time All star ever possibly. The sweetest stroke and shot..... For 3!

Great video debating the Dale...

Was Dale Ellis underrated as a player? Is he still?