Guard · New Orleans Pelicans
Dale Ellis
Age 65 · USA · 201 cm (6'7") · 93 kg · Born Aug 6, 1960 · Tennessee
15.4 PPG
3.4 RPG
1.4 APG
1,302 games
17 seasons
Career snapshot
17seasons
1,302games
20,042career pts
14.5PER (avg)
Most-played franchise:
Oklahoma City Thunder
· 451 games · 1986-87–1998-99
Position rank · 1999-00
#92PPG rank
#100PER rank
#97WS rank
Among 105 Guard players (min. 41 games)
Career highs (single season)
PPG
27.5
1988-89 · OKC
RPG
5.5
1986-87 · OKC
APG
2.9
1986-87 · OKC
PER
18.2
1990-91 · MIL
WS
7.6
1993-94 · SAS
Draft
1983
Round 1 ·
Pick 9
from Tennessee
Honors & awards
1×
All-NBA Team
1988
1×
All-Star Selection
1988
1×
NBA Most Improved Player
1986
Career by team
New Orleans Pelicans
1999-00 – 1999-00 · 1 seasons
2.3 PPG
0.9 RPG
0.3 APG
24 games
Milwaukee Bucks
1990-91 – 1999-00 · 3 seasons
15.0 PPG
3.1 RPG
1.2 APG
120 games
Oklahoma City Thunder
1986-87 – 1998-99 · 7 seasons
20.8 PPG
3.9 RPG
2.0 APG
451 games
Denver Nuggets
1994-95 – 1996-97 · 3 seasons
14.3 PPG
3.4 RPG
1.5 APG
244 games
San Antonio Spurs
1992-93 – 1993-94 · 2 seasons
16.0 PPG
3.6 RPG
1.2 APG
159 games
Dallas Mavericks
1983-84 – 1985-86 · 3 seasons
8.2 PPG
3.1 RPG
0.7 APG
211 games
Stats by season
| Season | Team | G | GS | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG% | 3P% | FT% | PER | WS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-84 | DAL | 67 | 2 | 15.8 | 8.2 | 3.7 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 45.6 | 41.4 | 71.9 | 15.1 | 1.5 |
| 1984-85 | DAL | 72 | 4 | 18.3 | 9.3 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 45.4 | 38.5 | 74.0 | 14.7 | 2.4 |
| 1985-86 | DAL | 72 | 1 | 15.1 | 7.1 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 41.1 | 36.4 | 72.0 | 13.5 | 1.6 |
| 1986-87 | OKC | 82 | 76 | 37.5 | 24.9 | 5.5 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 51.6 | 35.8 | 78.7 | — | — |
| 1987-88 | OKC | 75 | 73 | 37.2 | 25.8 | 4.5 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 50.3 | 41.3 | 76.7 | — | — |
| 1988-89 | OKC | 82 | 82 | 38.9 | 27.5 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 50.1 | 47.8 | 81.6 | — | — |
| 1989-90 | OKC | 55 | 49 | 37.0 | 23.5 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 49.7 | 37.5 | 81.8 | — | — |
| 1990-91 | NBA | 51 | 24 | 27.9 | 16.8 | 3.4 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 47.4 | 36.3 | 72.3 | — | — |
| 1990-91 | MIL | 21 | 0 | 29.7 | 19.3 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 48.6 | 44.1 | 70.7 | 18.2 | 1.6 |
| 1990-91 | OKC | 30 | 24 | 26.7 | 15.0 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 46.3 | 30.3 | 73.8 | — | — |
| 1991-92 | MIL | 81 | 11 | 27.0 | 15.7 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 46.9 | 41.9 | 77.4 | 15.9 | 4.8 |
| 1992-93 | SAS | 82 | 76 | 33.3 | 16.7 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 49.9 | 40.1 | 79.7 | 15.0 | 6.4 |
| 1993-94 | SAS | 77 | 75 | 33.6 | 15.2 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 49.4 | 39.5 | 77.6 | 14.7 | 7.6 |
| 1994-95 | DEN | 81 | 3 | 24.6 | 11.3 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 45.3 | 40.3 | 86.6 | 12.9 | 3.4 |
| 1995-96 | DEN | 81 | 52 | 32.4 | 14.9 | 3.9 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 47.9 | 41.2 | 76.0 | 14.7 | 6.2 |
| 1996-97 | DEN | 82 | 51 | 35.9 | 16.6 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 41.4 | 36.4 | 81.7 | 12.9 | 3.1 |
| 1997-98 | OKC | 79 | 0 | 24.5 | 11.8 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 49.7 | 46.4 | 78.2 | — | — |
| 1998-99 | OKC | 48 | 5 | 25.7 | 10.3 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 44.1 | 43.3 | 75.7 | — | — |
| 1999-00 | NBA | 42 | 5 | 13.4 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 41.5 | 37.0 | 69.2 | — | — |
| 1999-00 | NOP | 24 | 5 | 10.0 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 32.8 | 40.0 | 75.0 | — | — |
| 1999-00 | MIL | 18 | 0 | 18.0 | 6.8 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 46.5 | 35.4 | 66.7 | 12.1 | 0.6 |
Transfers & team changes
Derived from season-by-season team membership.
| Date | Move | Type | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1999 | New Orleans Pelicans | Milwaukee Bucks | mid season trade | From 1999-00 to 1999-00 | |
| Jul 1999 | Oklahoma City Thunder | New Orleans Pelicans | season change | ||
| Jul 1997 | Denver Nuggets | Oklahoma City Thunder | season change | ||
| Jul 1994 | San Antonio Spurs | Denver Nuggets | season change | ||
| Jul 1992 | Milwaukee Bucks | San Antonio Spurs | season change | ||
| Oct 1990 | Milwaukee Bucks | Oklahoma City Thunder | mid season trade | From 1990-91 to 1990-91 | |
| Jul 1990 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Milwaukee Bucks | season change | ||
| Jul 1986 | Dallas Mavericks | Oklahoma City Thunder | season change | ||
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Born on August 6
About Dale Ellis
Dale Ellis is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). At various points in his career, Ellis held the record for the most career 3-point field goals made, until Reggie Miller surpassed him. His 1,719 career made three-pointers ranked 2nd in NBA history at the time of his retirement, and rank 38th in NBA history as of May 2026. He also holds the record for most minutes played in a single game with 69 minutes.