This story was updated to add information.
A potential Memphis Grizzlies playoff run was ended in the first round at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 4-0 sweep.
The days of a long Grizzlies playoff run or a possible championship will have to wait. For now, fans can still find rooting interests in players who are connected or familiar to Memphis.
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Four teams remain in the NBA playoffs. The Western Conference finals begin May 20 between the Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves, with the Eastern Conference finals starting May 21 between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks.
Memphis is known as a basketball city. There have been years when the city randomly is near the top of broadcast viewership ratings for the NBA Finals despite the Grizzlies never making it that far.
Here are four players with Memphis ties who have a chance to win an NBA championship.
Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley Jr. is the most notable name with Grizzlies ties remaining in the NBA playoffs. Conley, who played for Memphis from 2007 to 2019, remains the franchise leader in games played, points and steals, among other statistics.
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Conley came off the bench for the Timberwolves seven times this season, his most since the 2008-09 season.
However, the 37-year old vet has been a steady presence during the playoff run. Many Grizzlies fans were elated to see Marc Gasol win a championship ring in Toronto, and now it may be Conley’s turn.
Only one other former Grizzlies player remains in the postseason. Knicks guard Delon Wright had a short stay with the Grizzlies in 2019, but it was the best stretch of his career. He averaged 12.2 points while playing 30.8 minutes per game in 26 appearances.
Wright is currently out of the Knicks rotation. Most of his postseason time has come in mop-up duty when the game is essentially decided.
Former Memphis Tigers
There’s also two former Memphis Tigers players suiting up in the conference finals.
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Precious Achiuwa has played sparingly as the third center behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson for the Knicks. Unless those two are in foul trouble, Achiuwa won’t see much time.
The 6-foot-8 forward spent one season with the Tigers before becoming a first-round pick in 2020 for the Miami Heat. He was named American Athletic Conference Player of the Year after averaging 15.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
Two years after Achiuwa’s standout season, freshman Josh Minott played one season with the Tigers before entering the NBA draft and being selected 45th overall in the second round.
Minott has spent his first three NBA seasons with the Timberwolves. He averaged six minutes per game this season. The forward has seen action in two playoff games this season and eight overall in his career.
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TIGERS UPDATES: Memphis basketball mailbag: Frontcourt help on way? Also, schedule talk, Curtis Givens III update
Memphis natives
Backup Knicks point guard Cameron Payne is also holding it down for Memphis. Payne prepped at Lausanne Collegiate School before attending Murray State University and becoming a 2015 first-round pick of the Thunder.
Payne is a key member of the Knicks’ rotation, backing up star Jalen Brunson. Payne averaged 6.9 points per game in the regular season.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Why Memphis Grizzlies fans should root for Mike Conley in NBA playoffs
