Monta Continues Push for All-Star Appearance

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In his five-year career Golden State Warriors’ shooting guard Monta Ellis has grown into a dominant player and reliable leader. With this year’s Warriors team being one of the youngest, only two players are over 30 years old, Ellis has been leaned on to grow into a leadership role he once shunned.

Ellis has responded to that request by new Head Coach Keith Smart with, what many believe to be, his best season yet.

Through the first 41 games of the season, Ellis is averaging career highs with 25.9 points per game, 5.6 assists per game and 2.3 steals per game. He also adds 3.4 rebounds a game.

Just to show how good Ellis has been this year, Los Angeles Lakers G Kobe Bryant is averaging 25.5 points, 4.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 5.1 rebounds. Bryant is one of the best players in the NBA and will most likely be the starting shooting guard in the All-Star Game in LA this year.

The only way for Ellis to make it is to be voted in by the coaches and players as a reserve. His main competition for the reserve spot is San Antonio Spurs’ G Manu Ginobili and Los Angeles Clippers G Eric Gordon. Ginobili’s numbers are nowhere near Ellis’s. Gordon has had a pretty decent third-year, but his increase in production might be in relation to the threat of Blake Griffin on the inside.

Ellis has been productive for several seasons now and is considered one of the premier players in the league. He is constantly given recognition by his peers, like Bryan, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and other high-caliber players.

Fans have been making noise for Ellis’ All-Star debut and 2011 might be the year. He would be the franchises first All-Star since Latrell Sprewell last made it in 1997.

He will add excitement to an already exciting event. Ellis has numerous highlight worthy plays every game and has had 11 games where he scored 30 or more points. Any other player would be a starter in the game, but Ellis has not been given nationwide attention. This could be the year that he garners that attention and the team does as well.

In back-to-back games Ellis has nailed a game-winner and game-tying shot. He’s been clutch and has had no problem taking over a game. He does it better and more frequently than most other superstars. This should be the year Ellis makes his All-Star debut, but will coaches be smart enough to bring him to LA.

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