Memphis Grizzlies: Who Is The Grizzlies’ 2012-13 MVP?
Mike Conley has been a steadying influence for the Memphis Grizzlies. Photo Credit: Mark Runyon, Basketball Schedule
Coming off their best season in franchise history, the Memphis Grizzlies are just four wins away from their first-ever NBA Finals appearance. What one player has meant the most to the Grizzlies improbable run? Would it have been veteran forward Rudy Gay had he played the entire season in a Grizzlies uniform? Was it veteran big man Zach Randolph, who has been on of the most influential leaders in the Grizzlies’ locker room? Actually, it’s neither of them.
When you look at the most valuable player for the Memphis Grizzlies during this season, you should look at one player–Mike Conley. Conley, the Grizzlies’ veteran starting point guard, has been one of the most productive and efficient players this entire season for Memphis and throughout the entire league.
When you take a look at Conley’s stats compared to the rest of Memphis’ starting lineup, he actually stands out in a handful of quality categories. ESPN has Conley ranked third in overall minutes played, fourth in points-per-game, as well as leading the entire team in assists and steals per game. Conley ranks second on the team, only trailing veteran center Marc Gasol in PER rating, which defines a player’s efficiency during games.
Conley has emerged as the Grizzlies’ backcourt scorer since Rudy Gay was traded mid-season in a deal with the Toronto Raptors. Conley was able to break out of his shell, if you will, and become a more well-rounded player, both offensively and defensively. One could argue that if you were to re-install Gay into the lineup while removing Conley, the Grizzlies would actually be worse off, despite the numbers on paper.
Conley’s leadership and expertise of the offense is extremely important and valuable for what the Grizzlies like to do offensively. His chemistry with Gasol and Randolph is something that no player can match and Rudy Gay isn’t a pass-first offensive player. Conley’s veteran presence in the locker room as “team first” rather than a “me first” player also helps speed up and round out the development of the young players in the locker room.
Many people around the league questioned the Grizzlies decision to give Conley a long-term, big-money extension in 2010, but Conley has proven over the past few seasons that he’s not only worth every penny, but he’s justified himself as one of the top-level point guards in the entire league.
Conley may have never gotten that opportunity had the Grizzlies not parted ways with Gay earlier this season. Will Conley single-handedly win the Grizzlies an NBA championship? No, because he’s not that type of player. However, Conley has shown plenty of times before that he’s capable of being an offensive leader, as well as putting the team on his back to win clutch games. Mike Conley was paid to lead and develop, and that’s what he’s done. His value to the team often outweighs his talent, and that’s why he’s the Grizzlies 2013 MVP.