Described as the perfect teammate, Zen player par excellence, who has never collected a technical foul in his 17-year career, Mike Conley must have been violent last night. The reason ? His Wolves found themselves manhandled by the very weakened Grizzlies, at -4 at the start of the fourth quarter (85-89).
Author of 17 points and 10 assists, the Minnesota leader then had to revolt against his former team of hearts by passing 8 points in a row to turn the match on the right side, capping his series with a 3-pointer which inflamed the crowd, then harangued by the player. A situation rare enough to be highlighted.
Now or never
Even if he is no longer the dominant conductor of his good years in Memphis, Mike Conley remains a very important element of Chris Finch's system. And seeing him react when his team found itself in difficulty greatly pleased his teammates, Anthony Edwards in the first place.
“I haven’t seen him show his emotions like that since he left Memphis”pointed out the rear in a joking tone. “I feel like when he got here he got a little bit of confidence back. It's really cool to see him get the crowd involved, hit big shots and get motivated. Because he’s starting to get old.”
The passage of time is indeed working against Mike Conley, who, at 36 years old, has not yet said goodbye to his title dreams. Enough to boost his competitive spirit, even if he doesn't let anything show.
“I've always been someone with a strong competitive spirit, but at this stage of my career I think it's a little more urgent for me”, he recognized. “Every match is more important. I never know when it will be the last, it's that kind of feeling. That’s how I take it.”
The perfect environment for him
For Chris Finch, it's this winning environment that pushes Mike Conley to stay at the top of his game, aware that this year could be the right one.
“Being a good guy and being a killer on the field when it comes to winning is not mutually exclusive. Right off the bat when he got here, I think one of the things that excited him the most: he saw the potential of the team and he knew we were trying to win.”
With that, Mike Conley also wanted to mention the contribution of his coach who knows how to put him in the best possible condition by guaranteeing him unfailing confidence, which pushes him to stay at the top of his form.
” I love that. I like the confidence Finchy has in me and the players and the team and I will continue for as long as I can. That’s what keeps me standing, knowing that people will count on me.”specified Mike Conley.
| Mike Conley | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2007-08 | SAME | 53 | 26 | 42.8 | 33.0 | 73.2 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 9.4 |
| 2008-09 | SAME | 82 | 31 | 44.2 | 40.6 | 81.7 | 0.3 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 10.9 |
| 2009-10 | SAME | 80 | 32 | 44.5 | 38.7 | 74.3 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 5.3 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 12.0 |
| 2010-11 | SAME | 81 | 36 | 44.4 | 36.9 | 73.3 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 6.5 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 13.7 |
| 2011-12 | SAME | 62 | 35 | 43.3 | 37.7 | 86.1 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 6.5 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 12.7 |
| 2012-13 | SAME | 80 | 35 | 44.0 | 36.2 | 83.0 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 6.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 14.6 |
| 2013-14 | SAME | 73 | 34 | 45.0 | 36.1 | 81.5 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 17.2 |
| 2014-15 | SAME | 70 | 32 | 44.6 | 38.6 | 85.9 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 15.8 |
| 2015-16 | SAME | 56 | 31 | 42.2 | 36.3 | 83.4 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 6.1 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 15.3 |
| 2016-17 | SAME | 69 | 33 | 46.0 | 40.8 | 85.9 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 6.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 20.5 |
| 2017-18 | SAME | 12 | 31 | 38.1 | 31.2 | 80.3 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 4.1 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 17.1 |
| 2018-19 | SAME | 70 | 34 | 43.8 | 36.4 | 84.5 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 6.4 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 21.1 |
| 2019-20 | UTH | 47 | 29 | 40.9 | 37.5 | 82.7 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 14.4 |
| 2020-21 | UTH | 51 | 29 | 44.4 | 41.2 | 85.2 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 16.2 |
| 2021-22 | UTH | 72 | 29 | 43.5 | 40.8 | 79.6 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 13.7 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 67 | 30 | 42.8 | 38.5 | 83.4 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 6.7 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 11.9 |
| 2022-23 * | UTH | 43 | 30 | 40.8 | 36.2 | 81.3 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 7.7 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 10.7 |
| 2022-23 * | MIN | 24 | 31 | 46.0 | 42.0 | 86.3 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 14.0 |
| 2023-24 | MIN | 39 | 29 | 45.1 | 45.1 | 92.3 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 6.4 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 10.9 |
| Total | 1064 | 32 | 43.9 | 38.5 | 82.2 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.7 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 14.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
