NBA Player Power Rankings: The Top 20 Players Of 2016-17

Feb 18, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Western Conference guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (0) and Western Conference guard James Harden of the Houston Rockets (13) during the NBA All-Star Practice at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

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Apr 7, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) dribbles the ball during the first half against the New York Knicks at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

Honorable Mention: Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies

Position: Point Guard
Age: 29 (10/11/1987)
Experience: 10th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .459/.407/.859
2016-17 Season Averages: 33.2 MPG, 20.5 PPG, 6.3 APG, 3.5 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 2.5 3PM

Towards the end of the 2016-17 NBA regular season, Mike Conley supplanted Marc Gasol as the best player on the Memphis Grizzlies. He didn’t do it for long enough to be ranked ahead of Gasol, but simply watching the games will show you that it happened.

With Gasol earning the Top 20 nod for a full season of work, it’s only fair that the No. 21 ranked player, Conley, receive an honorable mention.

Conley finished 2016-17 at No. 20 in the NBA in Real Plus-Minus, as well as No. 11 in Offensive RPM. Memphis recorded net ratings of +3.1 with Conley on the court and -3.9 without him, which is a difference of 7.0 points per 100 possessions.

Say what you will about the cost of his contract, but in 2016-17, Conley was worth every penny to a Grizzlies team that was devastated by injuries.

Conley is a clutch, efficient, and reliable player who produces strong numbers and steps up when the game is on the line. He rarely turns the ball over, has become an elite 3-point shooter, and is still respected as a rugged on-ball defender.

Conley has four more seasons to go on his record-setting contract, but in the first year, he fully justified the investment Memphis made in him.