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NBA Player Power Rankings: Mid-March MVP Rankings

By Maxwell Ogden

May 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 13, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

19. Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies

Position: Point Guard
Age: 29 (10/11/1987)
Experience: 10th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .451/.403/.849
2016-17 Season Averages: 33.3 MPG, 20.1 PPG, 6.3 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 2.4 3PM

If the past few weeks have proven anything, it’s that there’s reason to question who the best player on the Memphis Grizzlies truly is. Marc Gasol may do more, but Mike Conley is playing at a star-caliber level and making his team better because of it.

For all of the talk that Conley was overpaid, it would have been impossible for Memphis to have found a better point guard during the summer of 2017.

Conley began this past week by posting 16 points, five assists, and five steals during a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. With his team in need of a victory, Conley stepped up to the plate and hit a home run with 20 points, 10 assists, and three steals during a win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Two days later, Conley picked the Chicago Bulls apart with 27 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and a steal on 8-of-12 shooting during a 98-91 Grizzlies victory. He followed with 22 points and 12 assists during a 103-91 road win over the Atlanta Hawks.

Whether or not you feel he’s worth the money, Conley has responded to his new contract with the best year of his 10-year NBA career. He’s not only averaging a career-high 20.1 points per game, but he’s doing so with elite efficiency.

For what it’s worth, Memphis has net ratings of +3.0 with Conley on the court and a team-worst -2.1 without him. That’s the difference between winning and losing.