Mike Conley is known as the player that got one of the first insane contracts the NBA was handing out this past summer, a massive five-year $153 million deal.
His play though is one of the main reasons why the Memphis Grizzlies have remained afloat despite big-name player after big-name player moving to other clubs. But he may not get the opportunity to lead his team to the playoffs this year if the injury he suffered against Charlotte on Monday is as bad as it sounds.
Sources: Grizzlies guard Mike Conley suffered a transverse process fracture in the vertebrae. He will miss an indefinite period of time.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 29, 2016
Mike Conley out for 6-8 weeks, source told ESPN. https://t.co/YtkDJmnFmd
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) November 29, 2016
Tony Romo and Cam Newton are a couple of players who dealt with the transverse process fracture in the vertebrae. Both missed a minimal amount of time before returning from the injury.
Mike Conley went to locker room after going down on this play. pic.twitter.com/WXO84Nci3a
— Jessica Benson (@jessbensontv) November 29, 2016
Conley is putting up career best numbers after signing that five-year, $153 million deal. He is averaging a career-high 19.7 points, 5.7 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 46.7 percent from three point range and 89.7 percent from the free-throw line.
The former Ohio State star has become one of the most underrated players in basketball and one of the best point guards in the game, without anyone in the league really realizing it. While his contract is rich, the Grizzlies would gladly pay the contract if it means a winning record, the Grizzlies last year were 9-21 without him in the lineup as opposed to 33-19 with him.
That type of value is hard to come by, so the Grizzlies have a big void to fill.
