Jazz guard Mike Conley named NBA All-Star for first time in 14-year career as injury replacement for Suns’ Devin Booker
Conley #Conley
For over a decade, Mike Conley was one of the faces of the Memphis Grizzlies. Despite his and the team’s success, he wore the label as one of the best players of his era to never make the NBA All-Star Game.
That changes on Sunday. Conley, in his 14th season and second with the Utah Jazz, finally was named to the All-Star team as the NBA announced Friday he’ll replace Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker.
Conley, who is averaging 16.1 points and 5.2 assists for the Jazz, will also participate in the 3-point shootout in place of Booker, who is out due to a left knee sprain.
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Conley has helped the Jazz to the NBA’s best record (27-9) along with fellow All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Conley is second in the NBA in plus-minus and has brought the same steady presence he had in Memphis for 12 seasons as part of “Grit and Grind” era.
He was beloved in Memphis for his community work as much as helping the Grizzlies reach the playoffs seven consecutive years, including a Western Conference finals run in 2013.
Conley, the franchise leader in points, assists and steals, never made an All-NBA team and made the All-Defensive team once as a second team selection in 2013. But he earned respect around the league as evidenced by winning the league’s Sportsmanship Award three times.
The All-Star berth, however, eluded him due to talented guards in the Western Conference. His prime years were spent more as a revered, clutch point guard than sharing the love at midseason like teammates Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol.
Conley left Memphis after 2019 in an offseason trade to Utah. But Grizzlies fans still rooted for his success, and when he wasn’t named a Western Conference reserve this season, some were as upset as Ja Morant being left off.
But now they — and Jazz fans — can celebrate Conley finally being recognized as an All-Star when he’s introduced Sunday in Atlanta.
Follow Evan Barnes on Twitter @evan_b.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Jazz guard Mike Conley named NBA All-Star for first time in 14-year career as injury replacement for Suns’ Devin Booker