Keon Ellis

Keon Ellis
Ellis with Alabama in 2022
No. 14 – Cleveland Cavaliers
PositionShooting guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2000-01-08) January 8, 2000
Eustis, Florida, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft2022: undrafted
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022–2026Sacramento Kings
2022–2024→Stockton Kings
2026–presentCleveland Cavaliers
Career highlights
  • SEC All-Defensive Team (2022)
  • Second-team NJCAA DI All-American (2020)
  • Suncoast Player of the Year (2020)
  • First-team All-Suncoast (2020)
  • Second-team All-Suncoast (2019)
Stats at NBA.com 
Stats at Basketball Reference 

Keon Tyrese Ellis (born January 8, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

High school career

Ellis played basketball for Eustis High School in his hometown of Eustis, Florida before transferring to Leesburg High School in Leesburg, Florida for his junior season.[1] He led Leesburg to back-to-back Class 6A state titles.[2] As a senior, Ellis averaged 12.7 points, 11 rebounds and two assists per game, helping his team achieve a 29–1 record.[3] He signed to play college basketball for Gardner–Webb but instead opted to join Florida SouthWestern, a junior college program, for academic reasons.[4]

College career

As a freshman at Florida SouthWestern, Ellis averaged 8.3 points and three rebounds per game, earning Second Team All-Suncoast Conference honors.[3][5] On January 4, 2020, he scored a school-record 41 points in a 92–77 win against St. Petersburg College.[6] In his sophomore season, Ellis averaged 18.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game, setting program single-season records in points and steals. He was recognized as a Second-Team NJCAA Division I All-American and Suncoast Player of the Year.[7][8] For his junior season, Ellis moved to Alabama, choosing the Crimson Tide over Iowa State, Kansas State and Western Kentucky.[9]

He averaged 5.5 points and four rebounds per game as a junior.[10] Ellis was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team as a senior.[11] He averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and two steals per game.[12]

Professional career

Sacramento / Stockton Kings (2022–2026)

After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Ellis signed a two-way contract with the Sacramento Kings on July 2, 2022.[13][14] Ellis played in seven total games during the 2022 NBA Summer League, averaging 11.4 points on 44.1% shooting from the field and an impressive 46.9% from three, 3.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He made 16 appearances for Sacramento during his rookie campaign, averaging 1.5 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.4 assists.[15]

On July 2, 2023, Ellis signed another two-way contract with Sacramento[16] and on February 9, 2024, he signed a multi-year contract with the Kings.[17] On April 9, Ellis scored a career–high 26 points in a loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He made 57 appearances (including 21 starts) for the Kings during the 2023–24 NBA season, averaging 5.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.[18] On April 17, Ellis helped the Kings to a play-in tournament victory over the Golden State Warriors, with 15 points, five assists, four rebounds, three steals and three blocks.[19]

On November 18, 2024, Ellis scored a new career-high 33 points with nine three-pointers in a loss against the Atlanta Hawks.[20] He made 80 appearances (including 28 starts) for Sacramento in the 2024–25 season, recording averages of 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.[21] Ellis played in 43 games (including five starts) for the Kings during the 2025–26 season, averaging 5.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.6 assists.[22]

Cleveland Cavaliers (2026–present)

On February 1, 2026, Ellis was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team trade that also included the Chicago Bulls.[23]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022–23 Sacramento 16 0 4.4 .438 .500 .571 .5 .4 .3 .1 1.5
2023–24 Sacramento 57 21 17.2 .461 .417 .743 2.2 1.5 .9 .5 5.4
2024–25 Sacramento 80 28 24.4 .489 .433 .849 2.7 1.5 1.5 .8 8.3
2025–26 Sacramento 43 5 17.6 .397 .368 .625 1.3 .6 1.1 .5 5.6
Career 196 54 19.2 .460 .416 .769 2.0 1.2 1.1 .6 6.3

College

NCAA Division I

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Alabama 32 7 17.5 .504 .389 .723 4.0 1.1 1.1 .4 5.5

JUCO

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Florida SouthWestern 33 6 18.3 .442 .291 .767 3.0 2.2 1.5 .6 8.3
2019–20 Florida SouthWestern 31 26 27.6 .536 .401 .807 4.3 2.2 2.1 1.2 18.1
Career 64 32 22.8 .501 .371 .791 3.7 2.2 1.8 .9 13.1

Personal life

Ellis' older brother, Antwon Clayton, played college basketball for Jacksonville before turning professional.[3]

References

  1. ^ Perper, Jake (June 16, 2017). "Keon Ellis talks first state title, summer with Team MOAM and more". Prep Hoops. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Jolley, Frank (February 12, 2020). "Next Level: Ellis' play on hardwood earns offer from Alabama". Daily Commercial. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Hall, Erik (March 18, 2021). "Keon Ellis: 3 things to know about the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball guard". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Cruse, Hunter. "Taking Chances: Keon Ellis' path to Tuscaloosa". Crimson Crossover. Archived from the original on November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  5. ^ "2018-19 Men's Basketball Awards". NJCAA Region 8. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  6. ^ "Ellis Scores School Record 41 to Lead FSW Over St. Pete". Florida Southwestern College Athletics. January 4, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  7. ^ "Keon Ellis Named Second Team NJCAA All-American". Florida Southwestern College Athletics. April 6, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  8. ^ "2019-20 Men's Basketball Awards". NJCAA Region 8. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  9. ^ Martin, Alex (April 16, 2020). "FSW guard Keon Ellis commits to Alabama over Iowa State, Kansas State, Western Kentucky". The News-Press. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  10. ^ Casagrande, Michael (November 11, 2021). "What Keon Ellis brings to Alabama as unheralded guard posts monster stat". AL.com. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  11. ^ "Men's Basketball All-SEC Teams & Awards Announced" (Press release). Southeastern Conference. March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  12. ^ Murphy, Mark (January 31, 2022). "Auburn's Pearl wary of inconsistent but talented Tide". 247 Sports. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  13. ^ "Kings Sign Neemias Queta And Keon Ellis To Two-Way Contracts". NBA.com. July 2, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  14. ^ Tucker, Kyle (June 23, 2022). "What Keon Ellis brings to the Sacramento Kings 'He's your classic 3-and-D guy'". TheAthletic.com. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  15. ^ "Keon Ellis 2022-23 Stats per Game". espn.com. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  16. ^ "Sacramento Kings Re-Sign Keon Ellis to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  17. ^ "Sacramento Kings Sign Keon Ellis". NBA.com. February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  18. ^ "Keon Ellis 2023-24 Stats per Game". espn.com. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  19. ^ Rodriguez, Tristi (April 17, 2024). "Kings' Ellis puts Warriors, NBA on notice in postseason debut". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  20. ^ "Keon Ellis scores career high 33 points in Kings 109-108 loss to Hawks - CBS Sacramento". CBS News - Sacramento. Associated Press. November 18, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  21. ^ "Keon Ellis 2024-25 Stats per Game". espn.com. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  22. ^ "Keon Ellis 2025-26 Stats per Game". espn.com. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  23. ^ "Cleveland Completes Three-Team Trade with Sacramento and Chicago". NBA.com. February 1, 2026. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
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