Is Mike Conley a top 10 Point Guard?

Written by Taylor Odenat

Mike Conley, starting point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies, has been constantly overlooked in the discussion of the top point guards of the NBA. Notable names that come to mind are immediately superstar floor general Chris Paul for the Los Angeles Clippers, electrifyingly athletic point guard Russell Westbrook for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and smooth shooter Steph Curry for the Golden State Warriors. Mike Conley is consistently left of that list when it comes to top guards of the NBA.

Conley is considered one of, if not the; most underrated player(s) in the league. He doesn't get the shine he deserves because Memphis isn't his team. For years the Memphis Grizzlies have been a ground-and-pound basketball team led by Zach Randolph and emerging center Marc Gasol. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph have received recognition with Marc Gasol most recently winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2013 and Zach Randolph expected to rack up nightly double-doubles whenever he steps on the basketball court. However, Mike Conley isn’t noticed for essential contributions to the Memphis Grizzlies and steady yearly improvements as an individual player. Since his rookie season in the 2007-2008 NBA season, Conley has kept around 45% from the field and has continued to make strides for the Grizzlies organization as the remain a winning team throughout the years. In a stacked Western Conference, Conley is the rock for this team and has been for years.The Memphis Grizzlies have a plus or minus of 4.7 when he is on the court and a plus or minus of 2.5 when he isn’t on the floor.

Conley plays with poise that many point guards in the NBA don’t possess. He may not be flashy or super athletic or average a double-double in assists in points, but Conley is the third piece to the puzzle that allows Memphis to be a top powerhouse in the Western Conference. According to Basketball Reference, (Per 36 minutes) Mike Conley is averaging 6.1 apg and 14.7 ppg. These aren’t flashy numbers, but that is due to the fact that doesnt need the flashy numbers to allow the Grizzlies to succeed on a nightly basis. He comes out plays hard defense, makes the right plays, and picks his spots on the floor. In what Conley lacks in athleticism, he makes up for in his strong intellect in the game of basketball.

The Memphis Grizzlies, winners of 47 games, are sitting at the second seed in the West and are poised to clinch a playoff spot. This ball club wouldn’t be at this position without Mike Conley, who is more than capable of heading this team to a championship. He wasn’t projected to be a top 10 point guard in this league, but he plays both ends of the floor  and at times it is difficult to name nine point guards that are truly better all around players than Conley. He deserves respect and recognition and if the Grizzlies make a deep playoff run, he will receive that acknowledgment soon enough. 

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