Mike Conley thought he was going to be traded to LA Clippers in offseason: "I’m so used to having championship aspirations"

Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley did not expect to remain with the team at the start of the 2022-23 campaign. With the Jazz going into rebuild mode in the offseason, Conley said he would be the next veteran to be moved. In a conversation with The Athletic's Tony Jones, the one-time All-Star also said that he thought he would end up with the LA Clippers:

"This was tough at first because I’m 35 and I’m so used to having championship aspirations. I came to the Jazz to play for championships. So, I was wondering what would end up happening."

"But once we got a new coach (Will Hardy) in here and he started laying things out, I knew that I wanted to be here.We are building and developing."

“I wanted to put my ego aside and focus on the guys. I’ve loved every second of being on this team, and we play a brand of basketball here that we haven’t played in a while.”

Conley is one of the savviest veteran point guards in the NBA. After carving out an impressive career for himself, the guard has earned the respect of players within the NBA fraternity. In 12 games this season, Conley is averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 assists per game.

Over the course of his career, Conley has been a key figure for many competitive teams. Having been an integral piece in the Memphis Grizzlies' "Grit & Grind" era and the recent Utah Jazz teams, he became accustomed to competing for titles.

However, this offseason saw a massive shift in that outlook. With the Jazz opting to enter a full-blown rebuild, Conley found himself in a situation where his team were likely to lose several games with no intent of contending.

Much to the NBA and Mike Conley's surprise, the Utah Jazz have been one of the best teams so far this season. Currently standing as the top-ranked team in the West, Conley and the Jazz have put the league on notice.

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Mike Conley thriving with the Utah Jazz

Mike Conley calls out a play for the Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz have been one of the most surprising teams this season. While the Jazz seemed set on tanking for potential No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama next year, Utah have shocked the world with their impressive brand of basketball.

A huge part of the team's early-season success can be attributed to Mike Conley's leadership. As the oldest and the most experienced player on the roster, he has exhibited an impressive amount of influence on this young core along with first-year coach Will Hardy.

Lauri Markkanen has been a revelation for the team and has emerged as a potential All-Star. Markkanen is currently averaging 21.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

Meanwhile, role players Jordan Clarkson, Kelly Olynyk, Malik Beasley and Collin Sexton continue to add to the team's overall strength.

Boasting the best record (9-3) in the West after a fairly competitive start to the season, Mike Conley and the Jazz is a team to watch out for in the coming months.