"That was a bad boy" - Dorell Wright talks about how good and underrated his former teammate Monta Ellis was

When people discuss the most underrated players in NBA history, one name that must come up often is Monta Ellis . A 6-foot-3 guard from Jackson, Mississippi, the explosive wingman captivated fans and teammates with his scoring ability and disruptiveness on defense. However, his offensive escapades went unnoticed as these rarely translated to victories for the Bay Area's squad.

In fact, his only postseason appearance as a Warrior came during his second season as a pro when the "We Believe" Dubs upset the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round but fell short to the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Semis. Despite his unimpressive track record, his former teammate Dorell Wright said Monta deserved all the respect in the world for giving his all for the Warriors every night.

A skilled scorer

Wright, who played two seasons for the Warriors, said that Ellis often deceived many people because of his slight physique, leading them to believe he wasn't strong enough to handle the NBA's physicality. However, Dorell quickly learned that looks can be deceiving and that Monta was a force to be reckoned with on the court.

"The Mississippi Bullet, that was a bad boy—bad, bad man," Dorell declared to former NBA player Theo Pinson on the "Run Your Race" podcast. "Because when you see him in person, you're like, 'Yeah, he's 6'3,'' he probably 170, maybe.'"

Ellis was a three-level scorer with a deep arsenal of offensive moves that left defenders guessing. He could attack the rim with ferocity, pull up for mid-range jumpers with ease, and drain three-pointers from long range.

"How he got by, guys, he was crafty. He had one of the most elite pull-ups in the game. He'd get to his spot, and he would just take over a game," Dorell shared.

Lest anyone thought Monta only played on one side of the ball, Wright said the latter was a ball hawk who had fantastic anticipation on defense.

"And then he'd go on the other end, lead the team in steals, be disruptive," Wright continued.

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Off-court issues

In August 2008, a month after signing a six-year deal worth $66 million, Ellis got into an accident that resulted in severe injuries that needed surgery to repair. Monta initially explained that he injured himself while playing a pickup game in his hometown. However, a few days later, he eventually came clean and revealed the injuries were the result of a motorized scooter accident.

Because of his deception, the Dubs suspended Monta for 30 games without pay. Wright said this may have contributed to his career not getting the credit it deserves.

"I think he just got a bad rap with the, you know, the things he got into off the court. But a lot of people were able to see, like, 'Yo, this guy's the real deal.' One of the best players to never be an All-Star," Dorell said.

Monta played 12 seasons in the NBA, playing sensational basketball for the Milwaukee Bucks, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Indiana Pacers, which waived him in 2017.

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