Mike Conley Jr. Shoots for Glory in Western Conference Finals

SAN FRANCISCO – Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. showcased his competitive spirit during a pregame workout at Chase Center ahead of the Western Conference finals. The 37-year-old dancer bounced to the beat of ‘Life is Good’ by Future, attempting a dunk as the music played. After missing on the first try, Conley succeeded on the second and headed to the locker room with a sense of satisfaction.

“I’ve been doing that basically all this season,” Conley told Andscape on May 12. “They were like, ‘You can’t dunk.’ I told them, ‘I’m pretty sure I can.’” Conley aims to become one of the oldest first-time NBA champions while leading the Timberwolves, who are advancing to the Western Conference finals for the second consecutive year.

The Timberwolves face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, made up mostly of players averaging 24 years of age. Game 1 is set for tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET. “Just excited for the challenge in front of us,” Conley said. “We get to compete against one of the best teams in the league for a chance to make it to the NBA Finals.”

Conley hopes to find success after coming up short in previous attempts to reach the NBA Finals. He first played in the Western Conference finals in 2013 with the Memphis Grizzlies, where they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs. Last year, Conley and the Timberwolves lost in five games to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 Western Conference finals.

“I was shocked, really, because I thought it was a special year,” Conley said of last season’s defeat. “All those thoughts popped in. But it got me going in the summertime hoping that we could do it again.”

Conley, who was selected fourth overall in the 2007 NBA draft, remains one of the few players still active from that year. Players from that draft class include Phoenix’s Kevin Durant, Boston’s Al Horford, and Houston’s Jeff Green. Horford won his first title last season with the Celtics at age 37.

Currently, Conley is the 10th-oldest player in the NBA, while LeBron James, at 40, is the oldest. With only a few years left in his contract, Conley aims to play a record 20 seasons. This upcoming season will be his 19th.

Through rigorous fitness and dietary routines, Conley has managed to maintain his productivity. He averaged 8.2 points and 4.5 assists in 71 regular-season games this season while also addressing a lingering wrist injury that affected his training.

“One of the toughest injuries for me has been the wrist,” Conley explained. “That is not like me. So going into training camp, I had no strength [in my wrist].” He remains optimistic about improving his performance next season after battling injuries this year.

Conley balances his career while missing family events. He reflected on missing his son Noah‘s birthday this past May 12 due to playoff obligations. “It was tough for me not to be there,” he acknowledged, explaining how technology helped him connect with his family during significant moments.

With young teammates like 20-year-old Rob Dillingham and NBA All-Star Anthony Edwards, Conley continues to find joy in the game. “If you see a day where I’m not smiling and not having a good time, tell me to retire,” he said. “You can’t take this for granted.”

As the Timberwolves aim for their first NBA Finals appearance, Conley’s experience may prove valuable in their quest for a championship.