Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley Jr. has fully embraced his role as the “elder statesman” on a young, energetic squad. At 38 years old, Conley brings a wealth of experience, a steadying presence, and a unique perspective to the team, a dynamic he recently discussed, touching on everything from his ‘old soul’ roots to mentoring the team’s young star, Anthony Edwards.
The Roots of an ‘Old Soul’
When asked about the source of his veteran wisdom, Conley attributed it to his upbringing. As the oldest child in his family, he believes maturity came quickly. This was reinforced by spending time around older people and listening to ’80s music.
“The old soul I think it’s… well, I’m the oldest in the family, oldest child and we hang out with a lot of older people and you listen to the 80’s music, and you can gather that live growing up and I think that’s where just get mature real quick and you felt like that you’ve been here and done everything and that’s kind of like where I’ve been and got my roots from.”
This seasoned perspective is a key asset to the Timberwolves, providing a necessary counterweight to the team’s youthful exuberance.
A Balance for the ‘Super Green’ Timberwolves
Conley recognizes the raw, unfiltered energy of his younger teammates. He describes their outlook as “super green,” seeing the world through a different, constantly “go, go, go” lens. His job, he feels, is to ground them.
“I think that it translates pretty well. They’re extremely young and they have this energy that’s super green — like, they see the world through a different lens and they’re just go, go, go and I have to settle ‘em down and bring ‘em back to reality and tell ‘em the truth about things. However hard it may sound or however real it is, it’s the real truth and I’m the perfect balance for this team.”
This role as a truth-teller and settler helps keep the team focused and ensures their immense potential is channeled effectively.
Drawing Parallels for Anthony Edwards
One of the players benefiting most from Conley’s mentorship is star shooting guard Anthony Edwards. When asked to draw a comparison for Edwards’ dynamic style of play, Conley offered a unique hybrid.
He sees elements of future Hall-of-Famer Dwyane Wade in Edwards’ game, particularly in his aggressive, unorthodox drives.
“Honestly, I think his game is more like a D-Wade mix with a…. I don’t know of another player because I think the other player is just himself. So it’s like it’s Ant all to himself and it’s D-Wade, you know? Because his body and the way he gets in the paint, wiggle around in there being unbalanced and finishing and defending the rim.”
Edwards’ ability to ‘wiggle’ and finish despite being off-balance is a trademark of elite scorers, making the comparison to Wade—known for his acrobatic finishes—fitting, while still acknowledging Edwards’ unique star power.
Chasing the Dream into the 40s?
Conley is not currently focused on setting an endpoint for his career. Like contemporaries LeBron James and Chris Paul, playing into his 40s is a possibility, contingent on his health.
“I could honestly if my body was holds up. I’m moving great.”
However, his desire to continue playing is tied directly to achieving the ultimate team goal: a championship.
“Do I want to? If we win one here or there and win a championship it might be easier for me to hang ‘em up in a couple of years. But if we don’t, I’ll still be out here trying to chase my dream, so we gotta see how it goes.”
For now, Conley remains focused on bringing that elusive title to Minnesota, serving as the calm, experienced voice guiding one of the league’s most exciting young rosters.
