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Memphis Grizzlies starting point guard Mike Conley underwent surgery to smooth a small bone protrusion in his left heel in January and missed the majority of the 2017-18 season as a result.
Conley only played in 12 games last season, averaging 17.1 points and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 38.1 percent from the field and 31.2 percent from 3.
There’s some good news for Grizzlies fans, though. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff says Conley will be healthy for training camp, which starts next week.
“There’s no doubt about it,” Bickerstaff told Mark Giannotto of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. “Mike’s been playing pick up, those types of things. For the first time in a long time, we’re looking at walking into training camp with healthy bodies and healthy, high-caliber players. Not just guys who would be your 13th or 14th man. We’ve got our studs healthy, which we’re looking forward to.”
Without Conley last year, the Grizzlies endured one of its worst seasons in franchise history. The team went 22-60, finishing with the second-worst record in the rugged Western Conference. Memphis' putrid season netted it the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and the organization selected power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. out of Michigan State.
At Team USA training camp in July, Conley told reporters in Las Vegas he was feeling good and on course to be ready for training camp in September, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
“I’m doing really well,” Conley told reporters in July. “I wish I could’ve participated in contact stuff. I think I could, but we’re being cautious and allowing me to get a full summer of rehab. I should be ready to go by training camp — I expect to be ready.”
Mike Conley has career averages of 14.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 718 games with Memphis. He signed a five-year, $152.6 million contract with the Grizzlies in 2016 and will make $30.5 million this season.
