Anthony Edwards spoke about Mike Conley after a stunning 104-102 Game 1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
“Mike Conley was an All-Star in the NBA. I think people forget about that,” Edwards chuckled before continuing, “Like, once upon a time, he was one of the best point guards in the league.”
At one point, Mike Conley was also the highest-paid player in the NBA after signing a record five-year, $153 million deal in 2016. His lone All-Star appearance came in 2020-21, Edwards’ rookie season.
Conley was the fourth overall pick in a loaded 2007 NBA draft, two picks behind Kevin Durant and one pick after Al Horford. He’s played in 115 playoff games, starting 111 of them over 13 playoff appearances. Mike Conley came to the Twin Cities as an NBA All-Star and had a remarkably successful career, but he’s still everything to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Conley’s performance in Game 1 prompted Edwards’ comments. At age 38, he started and played just over 24 minutes for the Wolves. He would score 12 points, snag 2 rebounds, and log 6 assists without committing a turnover. Of Minnesota’s 104 points, he was responsible for 25 of them, either off an assist or scoring the ball himself. That would result in him having a +13 plus/minus for the game and the second-best net rating of +26.0 for the Wolves.
That shows that in the 24 minutes Conley played, the Timberwolves outscored San Antonio by 13. In the 24 minutes he sat, the Spurs outscored the Wolves by 11, for a 24-point total swing.
Conley’s biggest moment came with 4:45 left in the game. Terrence Shannon Jr. would get blocked on a shot, and Jaden McDaniels corralled the offensive rebound with Minnesota up six. He rifled a pass to Conley, who was waiting in the corner. Conley would rise up and drill the three-pointer to put the Wolves up 95-86.
The Spurs called a timeout, and the Timberwolves subbed Conley out of the game after his make. He didn’t return to the floor as the Wolves held on for the victory. However, without that three-pointer, the Spurs could have come back for the win.
“The guy’s an amazing basketball player.” Chris Finch said. “He’s an unbelievable winner. He competes no matter what the matchup is out there. So there’s always a role for Mike Conley.”
Conley’s role has changed a lot this season, from coming off the bench to starting, then going back to the bench, before they traded him to the Chicago Bulls at the deadline. Chicago traded him to the Charlotte Hornets, who bought him out. That allowed the Wolves to re-sign him, because he went to a second team after they traded him. He racked up DNPs (did not play) upon his return, buried on the bench behind Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu, Donte DiVincenzo, and Bones Hyland.
In the playoffs, injuries forced Mike Conley back into the starting lineup, where it appears he will stay, even after Edwards’ return. The inconsistency turned out to be a blessing for Conley. The trades and falling out of the rotation allowed him to rest and prepare for the playoffs.
“Man, it’s crazy how things happen. I really think that things happen for a reason, honestly,” Conley said before Game 5 in Denver. “I feel way different than the way I had in this moment than the past two, three seasons since I’ve gotten older. It feels like I’m just starting a season, you know what I mean? Having that kind of energy and muster behind your game.”
Conley also remarked on his role and minutes played.
“I didn’t think the minutes I played were too much or too little or anything like that,” he said. “Whatever the game asks, I’ll be ready to do.”
The Wolves are now in the heart of the playoffs, where the time off between games shrinks and the schedule changes to a game every other night. Conley’s experience, age, and former All-Star status all point to him having an impact in the rest of the series after a season full of change for him. With a 1-0 series lead, the Wolves will need Mike Conley to continue being the impact player Edwards raved about after the game.
