The most underrated point guard of his generation — six All-Star worthy seasons before his first selection.
Mike Conley Jr. was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1987, the son of Olympic triple jump champion Mike Conley Sr. Memphis Grizzlies selected him fourth overall in the 2007 NBA Draft. His 17-season career produced 14.7 points and 6.2 assists per game. He spent 12 seasons in Memphis — more games than any other player in franchise history — as the cornerstone of the Grit and Grind era alongside Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Tony Allen. He was widely considered the most deserving NBA player who had never been selected to an All-Star game for most of his career — winning the NBA Sportsmanship Award four times as a consolation of sorts — before finally being selected in 2021 with Utah. He won Olympic gold with the USA at Tokyo 2020. His combination of consistent scoring, elite defensive engagement and playmaking efficiency reflected quality that statistical metrics consistently valued more highly than public recognition. He signed the first $150 million contract in NBA history for a player who had never been named to an All-Star game. His Memphis legacy — 12 seasons, franchise games record, the leader of a competitive era — is the most underappreciated sustained one-franchise career of the modern NBA.
Exceptional point guard play, leadership, and sportsmanship
How They Played
Traditional point guard with excellent court vision and leadership
Lasting Impact
One of the most respected floor generals and teammates in NBA history
All-Star 1x
Career Honours
- All-Star 1x
- Olympic Gold Medal (2020)
- NBA Sportsmanship Award 4x