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With Harden Leading, Mike Conley Ranks 10th In NBA’s MVP Ladder

By Blake Meyer

Feb 10, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley (11) reacts after a three point shot in front of Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) and Memphis Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph (50) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley (11) reacts after a three point shot in front of Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) and Memphis Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph (50) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mike Conley has had quite the eventful season. From highest paid player, to All-Star snub, to now being mentioned in the MVP race. For most players, these are realities that may only come over the course of a career. Conley has been lucky enough to experienced all three just this year alone.

NBA.com’s Sekou Smith has just released his most recent MVP ladder for the season. You will, of course, find the usual names up at the top of the list. James “The Beard” Harden is currently at the top and has Russell “Brodie” Westbrook trailing closely behind.

I seriously hate Westbrook’s nickname, by the way.

Brodie.

Seriously?

You have maybe the most athletic man on the planet primed and ready for a badass nickname and all you could come up with was “Brodie”? I’m actually incredibly disappointed in this whole scenario.

Anyways.

In reality, it is really only a two horse race between these amazing players but it is fun to see how the rest shakes out. Watch for Conley to sneak his way farther up the list as the season goes along.

The List:

  1. Harden
  2. Westbrook
  3. Lebron James
  4. Kawhi Leonard
  5. Isaiah Thomas
  6. John Wall
  7. Steph Curry
  8. Gordon Hayward
  9. Paul George
  10. Mike Conley

Here’s what I find very interesting. Each of the players on the list was in this year’s All-Star game – except Conley. For a guy that nobody seems to think is good enough to make an all-star game or warrant a $152 million contract, he sure does fit quite well on this list.

Also, I believe he is in the wrong spot. Conley deserves to be at least 8th. George and Hayward are great players but Conley is arguably much more valuable to his team.

"10. Mike Conley, Memphis GrizzliesLast week: Not rankedThe All-Star nod that didn’t materialize this season will only serve as fuel to Conley’s fire as he continues to navigate his finest season as a pro. He leads the team that no one in the Western Conference looks forward to matching up against come playoff time. (23.8 points, 6.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds in his last five games)."

With the NBA season rounding in to the home stretch, Conley is leading a Memphis team towards a very possible birth in the Western Conference Finals.

Next: All-Star Break Review: Mike Conley

Conley deserves to be considered amongst the greats of the game. He brings strong scoring (19.6 PPG), Increased three-point percentage (41%) and strong assist numbers (6.2 APG)  to a Grizzlies team that relies on him nightly. That, in itself, is the definition of an MVP.

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