Hey! Here’s a rare news bit. I mean, it’s not really news because it’s been out there for a while. But of course, I have to say something about this.
Mike Conley finally did something that’s probably long overdue..
(PHOTO CREDIT: Rick Bowmer/AP.)
Mike Conley has been named to the NBA all-star game. He replaced an injured Devin Booker, who himself replaced an injured Anthony Davis. Booker hurt his knee against the Warriors on Thursday after he collided with Kent Bazemore in the first quarter.
Most people have said over the years that Conley has been underrated throughout his career and was one of the best players to NEVER make an all-star game. But Conley, who notably struggled in his first season with the Utah Jazz, found his footing this season and has helped the Jazz to the best record in the league. He’s averaging a steady 16.1 points and 5.7 assists while shooting a career-best .422 from behind the arc. And per usual, he provides great perimeter defense for the 4th best defense in the league.
Conley was much-maligned early in Memphis and a 5-year, $40 million extension that he signed in 2010 raised a lot of eyebrows. But he proved himself to be a key player in the grit-and-grind Grizzlies and manned the team to a Western Finals berth in 2013. He changed many a mind in the NBA community and went from somewhat overrated to underrated. He signed a hefty 5-year, $153 million extension in 2016 and once held the largest contract in NBA history. Once the grit-and-grind Grizzlies era was winding down, Conley was dealt to Utah before the 2019-20 season.
After struggling early with Utah, he caught fire late in that 2019-20 season. It has since carried over to this campaign and now he is an all-star. With Utah having the best record in the league, we all felt they deserved three representatives from the team in the all-star game. Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert made the reserves (and were notably picked last in the all-star draft). And then Booker got hurt so Conley was named as the replacement. So I guess that technically makes the last three players chosen as Jazz players? The disrespect!
Either way, Conley has finally made the all-star team. That accomplishment will never be taken away from him. So when he gets introduced somewhere, they can all say, “All-star guard Mike Conley!”
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else. GG.