Mike Conley Jr., the former Memphis Grizzlies stalwart who will have his jersey retired in the FedExForum rafters after he retires, fell short of another shot to win an NBA Championship. His Minnesota Timberwolves lost to the same team that swept his former team in the first round, 4-1 in the Western Conference Finals.
The 6'0" long-time starting point guard will enter the last year of his contract next season at age 38, without many years remaining that he can reach the NBA Finals. His expression at their press conference showed that, as Anthony Edwards spoke about how young he was, while also always expressing empathy for Conley.
Conley has now made three Western Conference Finals that have ended in a quick series, as he was swept in his only appearance with the Grizzlies by the San Antonio Spurs in 2013, lost in five games against the Dallas Mavericks last year with Minnesota, and this season's result against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Furthermore, the loss sealed a fate the Timberwolves share with the Grizzlies and a handful of other NBA teams.
The Grizzlies are among five teams to never reach the NBA Finals
10 teams have never won an NBA Championship, and that list shortens to five when it comes to teams that have never reached the NBA Finals. As mentioned above, with Conley's appearance in the Western Conference Finals in 2013 with the Grizzlies, that is the closest they have been to the NBA Finals.
The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered the same fate as they lost their third appearance overall, and back-to-back trips to the Western Conference Finals, as the furthest they have been. Both teams continue on a list with the Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, and New Orleans Pelicans, as teams that have never reached the NBA Finals.
The dominance Oklahoma City displayed this postseason, along with the youth of their team, is discouraging for the rest of the West, as they are the team that everyone has to catch. However, each season presents a new opportunity, and the parity in the league is prevalent right now, with its seventh consecutive season with a different champion on the horizon.
The Grizzlies are determined to break their streak of not making it to the finals, and have had teams that had a puncher's chance in the past. Having a superstar player in Ja Morant will keep them in the running going forward, granted that he can stay healthy when the moments come for the team to make a franchise-altering run.