Up Close with Mike Conley, Jr.
By:
Bill Ingram
Last Updated: 10/25/07 11:33 PM ET
| 695 times read
When the Memphis Grizzlies chose Mike Conley, Jr. with the fourth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft it wasn't with the idea that they were getting an immediate impact player. It was with the idea that they were getting someone who would help push the ball for head coach Marc Iavaroni, while having time behind Damon Stoudamire and Kyle Lowry to develop into one of the great floor leaders of the future. HOOPSWORLD caught up with Mike recently and talked to him about the opportunity and the challenge in front of him.
Mike, first of all, you've had a few preseason games and I know it's early, but how does the NBA strike you so far?
"It's pretty much what I expected. A lot of the guys have warned me and shown me the ropes of what I'm to expect when I first hit the floor. I'm having a good time, I'm learning a lot, and I think throughout the preseason it's been a plus for me and the team."
You guys have a real logjam at point guard with Navarro (sometimes), Stoudamire, Lowry, and yourself. Does it help you, coming in, to have a lot of competition?
"You can't sleep at night; you're always trying to beat out the next person. We're all working harder every day to improve our team game and in the end it's going to force each of us to go 100% in practice every day and that will make everybody better."
Damon Stoudamire is a guy who's been through a lot over the course of a successful NBA career. Has he been able to help you pick up on some things that will give you a leg up as the season gets underway?
"He's really taken me under his wing. He's been the guy I look to when I have questions and or I need to ask advice when I'm confused or don't really know a play or something like that. He's been there for me and he's always been pushing me when he's playing against me. He's very competitive, he wants to get the most out of his defender , and that's me most of the time. It's a great situation for me, as a rookie, having a guy like Damon Stoudamire to learn from."
Is it tough to see your longtime friend Greg Oden go down for the entire season?
"Yeah, I feel for him. I talked to him recently. He's the kind of guy who will get down because of things like that, but he's also capable of bouncing back from any injury. He'll be healthy come next year. He'll be back to tip-top shape and be ready to go."
Having played with him in college and high school, does that help prepare you for running a Memphis team that has a pretty impressive front line?
"It really does. Not a lot of guys come in with the experience of playing with a true big man and I've had the luxury of having that in both high school and college. It's an asset having that experience behind me and now I can bring it to this team."
Coach Iavaroni has a history of winning and doing so with a great point guard. Do you get the feeling that he's the guy to take this team to the next level?
"He really is. He's a guy who strives for excellence. He tries to get us going each and every day. He's always challenging us individually to be the best that we can be. He doesn't like losing at all, no matter what situation he's in or what team he's coaching for. He doesn't accept losing at all and that's something we're all becoming accustomed to. Hopefully that will bring more wins to this team."
Iavaroni will certainly bring more wins to the Grizzlies, but a big part of that process will be developing Conley. It's a luxury to have a veteran leader like Stoudamire, but you also have to have the next guy ready to take the reigns when Stoudamire retires. Conley is the odds-on favorite to be the next great floor leader for the Grizzlies.
About the Author: BILL INGRAM
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Bill Ingram is a Senior Writer for HOOPSWORLD, powering HOOPSWORLD.com. Bill covers the entire NBA and the Western Conference from Dallas. He is a member of the Professional Basketball Writers Association and has been covering the NBA for ten seasons.
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