Golden State Warriors: Monta Ellis helped encourage a young Steph Curry

The Golden State Warriors made a difficult, bittersweet trade almost a decade ago that would forever change the future of their franchise.

Many Golden State Warriors’ fans loved Monta Ellis.

He was the backbone of the franchise for a few seasons and, for a short time, was one of the most dynamic guards in the NBA. However, like with D’Angelo Russell, the Warriors saw no clear path to a championship with Ellis and Curry sharing the backcourt.

On March 13, 2012, the Warriors traded Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks. It was mid-way through Ellis’ seventh season with the Warriors, and fans were not thrilled about the team dealing their shooting guard that was notching almost 22 points per game.

However, Ellis didn’t let that rattle him. He used it as a moment to establish Curry as the permanent leader of the Golden State Warriors for the long-term future. In the interview with SLAM Online’s Alex Squadron, Ellis recalled a moment he shared with a young Stephen Curry.

"“A lot of people were saying they would’ve taken me over him. Being young, sometimes that’ll get to you. And I understood it. So I just called him and told him, Don’t worry about all of that, man. Just keep working hard. You’re in a great situation, it’s your team. There are going to be critics. You’re going to have people that are going to say what they’re going to want to say. Once you turn it around, I guarantee they are all going to be on your bandwagon. I just told him to keep working hard, man, and play basketball how he knows and stop overthinking it. Just play. As players, you get in that mode sometimes. I get that,” Ellis said."

It’s obvious that Curry isn’t one for fans booing.

He understands what a player like Ellis has given to a franchise and also understands the business factored into it as well, but seeing what was like a really good friend of his dealt halfway across America and the reaction from the fans probably gave the young guard a wake-up call.

The two guards shared the backcourt for two and a half seasons.

The Warriors, in the team’s two full seasons with the guards operating the backcourt, were 62-102. It was clear a change was to be made, and the fans, who had welcome Ellis for half a decade, weren’t fans of his sudden exodus.

Now a three-time champion and two-time MVP, Curry doesn’t have to thank Ellis for his success, but the relationship they had seemingly did help the young superstar, even in the tiniest bit, blossom into the confident, dominant player he is today.