Monta Ellis turned 30 last Oct. 26, two days before his first season with the Pacers began with a game in Toronto. By the time the season ended with another game in Toronto, a Game 7 loss in the first round of the playoffs, he knew some drastic changes were in order.
His mental approach to the game.
His offseason training habits.
Even some things in his personal life.
Ellis returns to the Pacers a new man, seemingly a year older and a decade wiser. You could hear it in the voices of coach Nate McMillan, teammates and front office executives over the past few weeks, and you could feel it in the voice of Ellis on Monday, when the team gathered for Media Day.