Mike Conley is entering his 20th season in the NBA. Earlier this summer, he opted to sign a one-year veteran minimum contract with the Boston Celtics, helping address some of their depth issues at guard. Conley, 38, is coming off a 54-game season for the Minnesota Timberwolves, where his veteran presence proved to be an important factor for Chris Finch's team.
Speaking at a September 15 introductory news conference for Celtics media, Conley shared his excitement about joining the Celtics, primarily because of their commitment to winning and the franchise's success throughout his NBA career.
"Whenever I think of Boston, I think of a winner, a winning culture," Conley said. "Since I was a kid, it's been that way. Since I've been in the league, I've seen
when KG (Kevin Garnett) and those guys won, and obviously, the last one they won was a few years ago. You just think of that immediately. Like PG (Paul George) said, when you're walking into the building, there's a sense, an atmosphere, just something that's a little bit different."
Conley will likely spend this season coming off the bench for the Celtics. However, his overall value will go far beyond what he produces on the court, as his veteran leadership can help replace the key voice lost when Al Horford left the franchise in free agency last summer.
This isn't the first time that Conley has spoken glowingly about the Celtics organization since joining the team, either. During an August 16 episode of the Celtics-produced 'Beneath The Banners,' the veteran guard verbalized his excitement about being part of the organization and what the season could bring.
“Too excited,“ Conley said. ”This is a legendary organization. I’ve been a fan of the game for a long time. The Celtics have been at the forefront of that. Just excited to be here.”
Conley hasn't won a championship during his time in the NBA. While Boston isn't viewed as a frontrunner to make a deep playoff run this season, it's fair to assume that he'll be hoping the team can defy expectations and give him a shot at the ultimate success.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Boston Celtics' Mike Conley praises the organization's winning culture
