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Memphis Grizzlies: Mike Conley Continues to Receive Acknowledgement of His Off-Court Work

By Christian Dudley

MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 11: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies makes a special announcement regarding the Methodist Healthcare Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center on April 11, 2019 at Methodist University Hospitals Center of Excellence in Faith and Health in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 11: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies makes a special announcement regarding the Methodist Healthcare Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center on April 11, 2019 at Methodist University Hospitals Center of Excellence in Faith and Health in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Mike Conley is in the running for another postseason NBA award which focuses on his contributions off the court and inside the community.

As great of a basketball player and person that Mike Conley is on the court for the Memphis Grizzlies, he is as good — if not better — off of it. It is not only Memphians who have taken notice and/or reaped the benefits of Conley’s generosity over his 12 seasons in the NBA. The entire league is on board with acknowledging “Captain Clutch.”

Via an official announcement on Friday, Mike Conley finds himself as a top-five finalist for the season-long Walter J. Kennedy Citizenship award. According to the NBA, the recipient of the annual honor is “presented to a player, coach, or athletic trainer who shows outstanding service and dedication to the community.”

When you think of Mike Conley and then look at the description for the annual citizenship award, the two sides go hand in hand. Conley is as good of a leading role model that an NBA franchise could ask for. The Memphis Grizzlies have been extremely blessed by his presence on and off the court, and a lot of that is not about scoring points or making smart passes. He has lifted the community and the fan base. Mike has brought people together all while making the Grizzlies organization relevant.

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It is actually surprising that Mike Conley has not received the Walter J. Kennedy Citizenship award in the past. After all, he has been spreading dollars and time of his own to others in need well before the 2018-19 NBA season.

This goes to show the strong efforts of the NBA and its leading players year-over-year, as the league largely values community presence. Along with supporting its players’ freedom of speech, the NBA remains undefeated, and continues to demonstrate why it is the model professional sports league in the United States and perhaps the world.

This latest news release is not the first time of the season Mike Conley has been in the spotlight for his community work and off-court efforts. He was the recipient of January’s monthly NBA Community Assist award, and therefore finds himself as a finalist for the season-long NBA Community Assist award.

The winner of that particular award is determined via fan voting on social media platforms, which ended this past week. Potential exists for Conley to take home both awards in the same season, which would be the first time the accomplishment has occurred.

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If Mike Conley becomes the eventual winner of this year’s Walter J. Kennedy Citizenship award, it will mark the first time a member of the Memphis Grizzlies has received the honor. Considering the constant NBA trade rumors surrounding Conley’s future in Memphis, this could be the finishing touch on his remarkable Grizzlies career.

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