Michael Alex Conley Jr. has followed in the footsteps of his father, Michael Conley Sr., who was also an athlete. The difference is while his father dominated the track and field, Mike Conley Jr. is causing waves in the basketball court. Born October 11, 1987, Conley got into the NBA after the 2007 draft, where he was the fourth overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies. As a rookie, Mike Conley put in some great effort, but he did not achieve record-breaking points, and for his sophomore campaign, he had to compete with Kyle Lowry for minutes. However, this quickly changed after Lowry was traded to the Houston Rockets and Conley joined the starting lineup. Since then, he has been on an upward trajectory, becoming one of the most reliable point guards in the NBA.
The big contract and technically perfect games
After proving to be a pillar for the Memphis Grizzlies, Mike Conley knew he had to shoot for a big deal after his free agency period began. His agents did not disappoint, and in 2016 he agreed to a five-year contract worth $153 million. This instantly made him a top earner in the league as this was the largest contract in NBA history. However, injuries quickly ruined what was expected to be exciting seasons for the point guard, who was later traded to Utah Jazz on July 6, 2019.
The Adidas athlete who later landed a Jordan brand deal
For too long, Mike Conley was an Adidas athlete as he signed with the brand as a rookie. But, during the 2015/2016 season, Conley had a change of heart and ditched the brand opting to lace up Curry’s Under Armour sneakers. Since he was not signed with Under Armour and was a free agent, the Jordan brand used this stint to woo Conley with a contract. After becoming an official Jordan athlete, Mike Conley, who stands at 6-feet 1-inch and wears shoe size 11.5/12, has rocked some of the illest sneakers. The most popular ones are:
Air Jordan 35
After its release in September 2020, the Air Jordan 35 quickly became popular in the NBA, with big-name athletes including Conley settling for it. The defining features of this shoe were its visible Air pod in the midfoot and Eclipse plate 2.0, plus its curved pattern that is similar to the Air Jordan 34.
Air Jordan 34
Hailed as the lightest Jordan shoe ever, the Air Jordan 34 was the perfect release for rising stars signed to the brand. Conley was among the stars who have rocked this shoe, which introduced the Eclipse Plate for heel stability.
Air Jordan 33
The defining strength of the Air Jordan 33 was its FastFit closure system for a perfect fit and streamlined modern design. Mike Conley received an exclusive Player Edition of this shoe and rocked other exciting colorways.
Air Jordan 32
The Air Jordan 32 was the upgrade that the brand needed to continue dominating the NBA courts. It had an attractive design, a FlightSpeed cushioning system, and was made of premium materials.
Air Jordan 31
This was the first Jordan shoe that Mike Conley laced, and while it was not the best release by the brand, it was a worthy performance shoe.