Timberwolves guard Mike Conley hopes to play at least two more seasons, according to Andscape’s Marc J. Spears.
Conley, 37, is aiming to play 20 NBA seasons in total. He’ll make $10.8MM next season in the final year of his contract in 2025/26 and says he’s having too much fun to hang it up yet.
“I’m having a ball, bro, honestly,” Conley said. “I tell the guys all the time, ‘If you see a day where I’m not smiling and not having a good time and loving being here, tell me to retire. Tell me to go home.’ That is one reason why I’m here. Being around these guys, the atmosphere, the game. The competitive atmosphere every day. You don’t get this anywhere else in life, especially at my age getting older. You really can’t take it for granted.”
Conley appeared in 71 games this season but he was playing through some pain. He has been nagged by a left wrist injury since last offseason.
The veteran point guard averaged 8.2 points and 4.5 assists while playing a career-low 24.7 minutes per game. He put up 8.0 points and 5.0 assists in 24.6 minutes per contest in the conference semifinals against Golden State.
“One of the toughest injuries for me has been the wrist,” Conley said. “I had to be in a cast for like two months last summer. And during that time, I couldn’t shoot a ball, touch a ball. Nothing. That is not like me. Normally in the summertime I’m working and doing everything I can. So going into training camp, I had no strength [in my wrist]. It was weak, [there was] still pain and I was trying to work through some things. I was hesitant to do stuff and be myself. It’s been a battle all [season]. It’s something I’ve slowly gotten over with. Hopefully, it will be even better next season.”
This is the third time in his career that Conley’s team has made it to the conference finals. He also played in the Western Finals in 2013 with Memphis and last year with Minnesota, but he’s still seeking his first NBA Finals appearance.
“I was shocked, really, because I thought it was a special year,” Conley said about losing in the Western Conference Finals last spring. “I thought it was going to all make sense and we all were going to make it finally. My first thought was, ‘How long will it take for us to get back here again? Will it be next year. Will it be another year? I don’t know. Will it be the last chance I get?’ All those thoughts popped in. But it got me going in the summertime hoping that we could do it again this season and have a chance.”
It’s crazy how many guys would still be in this league if they just accepted they were old now and better used in smaller minutes, and take a minutes cut just to stay in the league.
DaveyJ said
> It’s crazy how many guys would still be in this league
> if they just accepted they were old
Davey, I know you’re a young guy. In 15 years, let us know whether you still feel age is a state of mind :–)
He would be a bench guy for Minn, they didn’t trade up to get Dillingham for him to not play in 2nd year.
I can also see some other contending level team maybe give him a shot.
So he needs the money? Just like these super senior guys at work who won’t leave.
No, he just loves playing the game and doesn’t want to give it up yet. I’m sure money has nothing to do with it.
He was the only TWolve with a positive +/- last night (+5).
Meanwhile, Ant disappeared in the 2nd half and finished -23.
Scott Foster game 2?
> Scott Foster game 2?
Classic!