Memphis Grizzlies: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history
1. Mike Conley (PG) — No. 4 pick in 2007 NBA Draft
Career stats (with the Grizzlies, 2007-present): 706 GP, 14.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 5.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 44.3 FG%, 37.9 3P%, 81.5 FT%
Mike Conley wasn’t the top must-have Ohio State prospect in the 2007 NBA Draft. That accolade went to his teammate Greg Oden. The Trail Blazers selected Oden No. 1 overall while the Grizzlies took Conley at No. 4. Ten years later, Conley has far surpassed his college friend on the NBA career ladder. He has become the longest-tenured Grizzly and one of the best Grizzlies of all-time.
The development started slowly. Conley served mainly as a floor general in his first two seasons. From 2007-09, he averaged only 10.3 points but dished out 4.3 assists per game.
Things kicked into gear in 2009-10, Lionel Hollins‘ first full year as head coach. Conley became the full-time lead point guard, playing and starting in 80 games. From 2009-12, Conley averaged 12.8 points, 6.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game.
Conley really turned the corner in 2012. He averaged 14.6 points, 6.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game in 2012-13. He earned All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2013. Memphis chose not to renew Hollins’ contract the following summer and named Dave Joerger his successor. This is when the team truly became Conley’s.
Conley was the team win shares and PER leader during the 2013-14 and 2015-16 seasons. He averaged 16.2 points, 5.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game from 2013-16. He had a 19.3 PER and accumulated 20.3 win shares over that span.
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The Grizzlies fired Joerger in the summer of 2016, replacing him with David Fizdale. Like his predecessor, the new coach leaned on Conley to lead and produce. Conley delivered, playing his best season in 2016-17. He averaged a career-high 20.5 points as well as 6.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He also had a career-high 23.2 PER and 10.0 win shares.
Conley led a valiant charge in the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 27.4 points, 7.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game in the series. He scored a franchise postseason-record 35 points in a Game 4 win. The 13 field goals he made to accomplish the feat was also a team postseason record. However, the Spurs eliminated the Grizzlies in six games.
Conley leads all Grizzlies draft picks with six playoff appearances. He has played the most games (706) and minutes (22,985) in franchise history. Conley has also accumulated the most assists (4,011) and steals (1,055), and is the franchise’s only 10,000-point scorer (10,050).
Next: The 50 greatest NBA players of all time (updated, 2016-17)
As evidenced by the numbers, Mike Conley has cemented his status as one of the great Grizzlies. However, at only age 30, he likely has more to give to this franchise.