Mike Conley Bio
Michael Alexander Conley Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted as the fourth overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. Conley played high school basketball at Lawrence North in Indianapolis, where he won state championships alongside future NBA stars.
Over his career, he has established himself as one of the premier point guards in the league, known for his sportsmanship and defensive skills. Mike Conley is widely respected for his leadership, court vision, and consistency as a floor general.
Early Life and Background
Michael Alexander Conley Jr. was born on October 11, 1987, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He is the son of Mike Conley Sr., an Olympic gold and silver medalist in the triple jump, and the nephew of former American football linebacker Steve Conley. Growing up in a family with deep athletic roots, Conley was introduced to competitive sports at an early age.
Conley moved to Indianapolis and attended Lawrence North High School, where he became one of the top high school basketball players in the country. He played alongside Greg Oden, a future Ohio State teammate and NBA first-round draft pick, and the duo won three state championships and 103 games during their four years together. In 2006, Conley was named a McDonald’s All-American and a third-team Parade All-American.
Path to Basketball
After a decorated high school career, Mike Conley Jr. committed to Ohio State University, where he joined Greg Oden as part of a highly regarded recruiting class. In his freshman year, Conley averaged 11.3 points and led the Big Ten Conference in assists with 6.1 per game. He was named to the All-Big Ten First Team at the end of the season.
Conley and Oden led the Buckeyes to a Big Ten conference championship and a runner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament. On the road to the championship game, Ohio State defeated Central Connecticut State, Xavier, Tennessee, Memphis, and Georgetown before losing to Florida. After his freshman year, Conley declared for the 2007 NBA draft alongside Oden.
Mike Conley Career
Early Career (2007–2009)
Conley was selected fourth overall in the 2007 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. In his first five career games, he scored 5, 10, 11, 11, and 15 points, respectively, and finished his rookie year with averages of 9.4 points and 4.2 assists per game. He competed with Kyle Lowry for minutes early in his sophomore campaign before becoming the full-time starter.
On January 25, 2009, the Grizzlies made Lionel Hollins the head coach after Marc Iavaroni was fired. Lowry was traded to the Houston Rockets on February 19, 2009, which put Conley in the starting lineup. He averaged 10.8 points and 4.3 assists per game for the year, cementing his role as the team’s primary point guard.
Memphis Grizzlies Breakthrough (2009–2019)
Conley posted a season-high 25 points on March 31, 2010, and averaged 12.0 points and 5.3 assists as Memphis returned to the playoffs for the first time in five years. As the eighth seed, the Grizzlies defeated the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in six games, becoming only the second eighth-seeded team to beat a first seed in a seven-game series. In 2012–13, Conley averaged 14.6 points, 6.1 assists, and 2.8 rebounds, helping Memphis reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team that year.
Conley received his first NBA Sportsmanship Award during the 2013–14 season. On December 13, 2014, he scored a career-high 36 points in an overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers, and later returned from a facial fracture to help Memphis in the semifinals against the Golden State Warriors. On July 14, 2016, Conley re-signed with the Grizzlies on a reported five-year, $153 million deal, the largest contract by total value in NBA history at the time. That same year, he passed Pau Gasol to become the all-time leading scorer in Grizzlies history, and on March 5, 2019, he scored a career-high 40 points in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Utah Jazz Era (2019–2023)
On July 6, 2019, Conley was traded to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Grayson Allen, Jae Crowder, Kyle Korver, the draft rights to Darius Bazley, and a protected first-round pick. He made his Jazz debut on October 23, recording five points and five assists in a win over the Thunder, and scored a season-high 29 points against the Los Angeles Clippers a week later. During the 2019–20 season, Conley won the inaugural virtual NBA H–O–R–S–E Competition, raising $200,000 for charities.
On January 1, 2021, Conley scored a season-high 33 points in a win over the Clippers and was later named an All-Star for the first time in his career, replacing the injured Devin Booker. His 14-year wait is the longest ever for a first-time All-Star. On August 6, 2021, he re-signed with the Jazz on a reported three-year, $68–72.5 million contract. After the 2021–22 season, the Jazz traded away franchise players Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, and Conley was eventually moved to Minnesota in February 2023.
Minnesota Timberwolves Era (2023–Present)
On February 9, 2023, Mike Conley Jr. was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a three-team deal involving the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz. The trade reunited him with former Grizzlies teammate Kyle Anderson and former Jazz teammate Rudy Gobert. He made his Timberwolves debut a day later, recording nine points, three assists, and two steals against the Grizzlies.
On February 23, 2024, Conley signed a contract extension through the 2025–26 season. On May 1, 2024, he was again named NBA Teammate of the Year. Conley continues to serve as a veteran leader and steady floor general for the Timberwolves, contributing his trademark defense and playmaking.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mike Conley Jr. is widely regarded as a cerebral point guard with elite court vision, low turnover rates, and tenacious perimeter defense. His pick-and-roll orchestration and ability to control tempo make him a stabilizing force in the backcourt. He is also one of the most respected teammates in the league, earning the NBA Sportsmanship Award a record four times.
Notable Events and Milestones
Conley set a franchise postseason record with 35 points in a 2017 overtime win over the San Antonio Spurs. As of May 2025, he has yet to record a technical foul in over 34,000 minutes played, the longest streak without one of any NBA player. He also won the inaugural virtual NBA H–O–R–S–E Competition during the COVID-19 suspension of the 2019–20 season.
Mike Conley Career Wins
Across his 17-plus year NBA career, Mike Conley Jr. has built a reputation as a steady winner and a leader on competitive teams in Memphis, Utah, and Minnesota. While he has not won an NBA championship, his teams have reached the Western Conference Finals, made deep playoff runs, and consistently performed at a high level.
Memphis Grizzlies Highlights
Conley spent 12 seasons with the Grizzlies and became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. He helped Memphis reach the Western Conference Finals in 2013 and earned NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors that same year. He also received the NBA Sportsmanship Award multiple times during his tenure in Memphis.
Other Wins & Performances
Conley won the inaugural virtual NBA H–O–R–S–E Competition in 2020 and has been named NBA Teammate of the Year multiple times. His first NBA All-Star selection came in 2021 after a 14-year wait, the longest in league history for a first-time selection.
Mike Conley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Mike Conley Jr. comes from a strong athletic family. His father, Mike Conley Sr., is an Olympic gold and silver medalist in the triple jump, and his uncle, Steve Conley, was a former American football linebacker. Conley is also cousins with NBA player Trey Alexander.
Personal Life
Mike Conley Jr. is a Christian and has spoken publicly about his faith. On July 5, 2014, he married Mary Peluso, whom he met at Ohio State. The couple has three sons. In September 2024, Conley’s home was targeted by burglars while he was in Minneapolis attending a Minnesota Vikings game.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Mike Conley Jr. remains a key veteran presence for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Signed through the 2025–26 season, he continues to provide elite playmaking, perimeter defense, and leadership in the locker room. His role as a mentor to younger guards has been central to the team’s backcourt stability.
The Timberwolves are positioned as contenders in the Western Conference, and Conley’s steady hand is expected to be a major factor in their playoff push. His experience in high-stakes postseason matchups makes him a valuable asset during critical stretches of the schedule. Conley will look to add to his legacy by helping Minnesota make a deep run in 2025.
With his trademark basketball IQ and team-first approach, Mike Conley Jr. continues to be one of the most respected point guards of his generation, and his 2025 campaign will be closely watched by teammates and fans alike.