Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley is "having a ball" as he chases his first NBA Finals appearance. Conley is having so much fun and feels good enough that he's hoping to extend his NBA career by at least two more seasons.
"I’m having a ball, bro, honestly," Conley said. "I tell the guys all the time, 'If you see a day where I’m not smiling and not having a good time and loving being here, tell me to retire. Tell me to go home.' That is one reason why I’m here. Being around these guys, the atmosphere, the game. The competitive atmosphere every day.
"You don’t get this anywhere else in life, especially at my age getting older. You really can’t take it for granted."
Conley said recovering from a wrist injury over last offseason was tough. But now the veteran point guard says he's finally turned the corner with the injury.
"One of the toughest injuries for me has been the wrist," Conley said. "I had to be in a cast for like two months last summer. And during that time, I couldn’t shoot a ball, touch a ball. Nothing. That is not like me. Normally in the summertime I’m working and doing everything I can. So going into training camp, I had no strength [in my wrist]. It was weak, [there was] still pain and I was trying to work through some things.
"I was hesitant to do stuff and be myself. It’s been a battle all [season]. It’s something I’ve slowly gotten over with. Hopefully, it will be even better next season."