MEMPHIS – Although the goal was to participate in the marquee Sunday game,
Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley will get his shot to compete during the NBA’s
All-Star Weekend in Charlotte after all.
Conley confirmed to Grind City Media he has accepted the league’s invitation to
participate in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge as part of the State Farm All-Star
Saturday Night at the Spectrum Center. All-Star Weekend is Feb. 15-17 at the
home arena of the Charlotte Hornets, owned by Michael Jordan.
It will be the first time Conley, 31, has competed in All-Star Weekend events
since he played in what was then the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge game in 2008 and
dished a team-high eight assists in New Orleans. Despite his production this
season being on par with some of his career’s best numbers, Conley was not voted
a starter or selected by NBA coaches as a reserve from a group of marquee
players in the West.
Mike Conley #11 of the Rookie team posts up Jordan Farmar #5 of the Sophomore
team during the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam part of 2008 NBA All-Star
Weekend at the New Orleans Arena on February 15, 2008 in New Orleans, LA. Photo
by Andrew D. Bernstein via Getty Images.
Conley had bypassed opportunities to compete in All-Star Saturday Night events
in previous years because of injury rehab or scheduling conflicts. But now
healthy in his bounce-back campaign from last year’s season-ending heel surgery,
the 12-year veteran catalyst wanted to take advantage this time.
“I just said I might as well do it; who knows how long or how many opportunities
I’ll get to be a part of something like that,” Conley said as the Grizzlies
prepared for Tuesday’s home game against the Timberwolves. “If I’m not an
All-Star, maybe the next-best thing to it is to be a part of that weekend, take
my family there and just try to have a really good time.”
The All-Star Saturday Night field of participants is scheduled to be officially
announced on Tuesday night during the studio show of TNT’s double-header
broadcast of NBA games. But several players have already confirmed they will be
part of the field for various competitions.
Steph Curry (Warriors), Seth Curry (Blazers) and Damian Lillard (Blazers) are
among those who have reportedly committed to the Three-Point Contest, while
Miles Bridges (Hornets), Derrick Jones Jr. (Heat) and John Collins (Hawks) have
already been linked to the Slam Dunk Contest. Conley said he wasn’t certain
which other players he’ll be competing against in the Skills Challenge,
essentially an obstacle course spread throughout the court that tests speed
dribbling, passing, cutting and shooting in a timed session.
Previous winners of the Skills Challenge have included last year’s champion
Spencer Dinwiddie (Nets) along with notables in Lillard, Tony Parker, Steve
Nash, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade and Jason Kidd. Conley was pushing to make his
first All-Star Game this season and has played in 52 of Memphis’ 54 games,
averaging 20.3 points, 6.3 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals.
In the midst of trade speculation and the most difficult stretch of the
Grizzlies’ schedule, Conley raised his game even further leading up to the
deadline for coaches to submit their votes for All-Star reserves. Over his last
seven games, Conley shot 52.2 percent overall from the field, 39 percent on
threes and averaged 23.2 points, 7.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 steals in 36
minutes a game.
“I don’t think there’s anybody in our league that deserves the attention or the
recognition more,” Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of Conley. “There have
been years where Mike has been deserving of the Sunday (All-Star) game. And I
think it says a lot that the league recognizes that and went out and invited him
to be a part of that All-Star Weekend.”
The Grizzlies overall record (21-33), particularly their recent struggles amid a
slew of injuries, likely factored heavily in Conley being overlooked among West
guards in favor of All-Star selections in Lillard, Steph Curry, James Harden,
Russell Westbrook and Klay Thompson – all with teams in the playoff hunt.
Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles past Nemanja Bjelica #88 of
the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on October 24, 2018 in Sacramento, CA.
Photo by Lachlan Cunningham via Getty Images.
Yet, still, Conley is one of only four NBA players to lead their teams in
scoring average, assists per game, steals and free-throw percentage. Harden
(Rockets), Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) and D’Angelo Russell (Nets) are the others –
and all three of them were selected to play in the Feb. 17 All-Star Game.
“The West is deep and tough at that position, for sure,” Bickerstaff continued.
“But Mike is a heck of a player. One of the last boxes for him to check off are
‘All-Star’ and ‘champion’ but other than that, I think he’s done it all. He’s
been deserving of the All-Star nod. This conference is tough for that,
obviously, but those are the last two things for him (to accomplish).”
Conley plans to make the most of All-Star Weekend by making a competitive
statement to the field.
“I’m not sweating it too much,” Conley said of likely being one of the older
players in this year’s Skills Challenge. “I’m just really going there to have
fun and show the young guys that I can move with them a little bit. I’m not sure
who else is in it yet, but I’m sure they’re younger. I don’t think many of the
old vets will be in it, but we’ll see. I’m just excited for the chance to try it
out and be a part of everything.”
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Memphis
Grizzlies. All opinions expressed by Michael Wallace are solely his own and do
not reflect the opinions of the Memphis Grizzlies or its Basketball Operations
staff, owners, parent companies, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known
to the Memphis Grizzlies and he has no special access to information beyond the
access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the
media.
Player: Mike Conley
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