As consistent a two-way player as exists in the NBA, Mike Conley has quarterbacked the Memphis Grizzlies through their best years. He lands at #2 on our countdown of the Greatest Grizzlies.
Throughout the past few seasons, ‘Yonkers’ by Tyler The Creator has been in heavy rotation on FedEx Forum’s late-game playlist. It’s a fitting selection; the instrumental’s maddening ratchet-clockwork beat is almost perfectly metaphoric of Mike Conley‘s game.
The ‘Yonkers’ beat is boring but brilliant, subtle yet captivating, both chill and extremely intense at once. Watching Conley conduct Memphis’ grind while it monotonously cranks out over the PA is almost poetic.
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Conley, like ‘Yonkers’ , achieves greatness without the frills. He plays one of the NBA’s most vanilla, disciplined games, but his brutal effectiveness on both sides of the ball is unquestioned.
“Iron Mike’”s career has been a long, drawn-out evolution. First, he was a mixed-take draft prospect. Then, he was paid too much too soon. Then, he grew into a trendy pick as the NBA’s most underrated player. Then, he was called “underrated” so much, people wondered if he wasn’t suddenly overrated. Finally, he got paid a lot more.
Conley’s current status is that of perhaps the NBA’s best veteran non All-Star. He’s one of the league’s most efficient point producers, while also holding an All-Defense nod. At his zenith, he’s gone toe-to-toe with Kawhi Leonard’s best game ever – in a must-win playoff game – and gotten a W.
That insane showdown wasn’t some flash-in-the-pan outburst (I see you, Tony Delk!); Conley’s been steadily at the forefront of Memphis’ best years. He was, technically, the original Grit N Grinder, drafted before the rest of the ‘Core Four’ were acquired. Conley’s personal growth echoed that of the franchise; becoming perennial playoff and All-Star contenders, respectively.
Of course, Conley’s yet to have broken through that popularity contest bastion of the NBA’s elite. His zero All-Star nods are far more indicative of the West’s insane backcourt depth, than it is an indictment of Conley’s game. He’s clocked in at 20 (2015), 27 (2016), and 23 on the past three editions ESPN’s #NBARank; he clearly belongs among the game’s best.
Mike Conley’s impact on the Memphis Grizzlies is up for even less debate. The franchise leader in games, threes, assists and steals, he’s just a hair behind Marc Gasol for ther all-time scoring lead. He’s put in a decade of blue-collar brilliance; exactly the kind of star the city of Memphis can rally around.
What’s next for Conley and the Grizzlies remains uncertain. Coming off ankle surgery, he’ll be called on to lead a team looking to regain its place in the playoffs, amid a hyper-competitive West. Failure to do so could lead to the Grizzlies finally pulling the plug and rebuilding.
But even if Conley were traded tomorrow, he would remain a franchise legend. His jersey will one day hang from the Beale Street rafters; one of the first Grizzlies to truly define “Greatness”.