Mike Conley Jr. has been one of the most underrated players in the NBA for several years now. Much of the attention is focused on Memphis Grizzlies big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, but the Grizz would not have enjoyed the success they have in recent years if it wasn’t for Conley’s development and stellar play at the point-guard position.
Conley’s ascent to stardom is due at least in part to excellent genetics. His father, Michael Conley Sr., was a Hall of Fame track and field athlete who competed in the triple jump and long jump and won gold and silver medals in the Olympics.
That was not Conley Sr.’s only skill, though, as he also was a college basketball player for one season at the University of Arkansas. Both his basketball and track and field skills allowed him to dominate the Foot Locker Celebrity Dunk Competition, which he won three times in 1988, 1989, and 1992.
In the above clip from the ’92 event courtesy of YouTube user Dutton2013, Conley does what very few men can claim to have done: dunk from behind the free-throw line.
The video caption proclaims the dunk to be the “longest dunk ever.” While I’m not quite sure that is true, this jam has to be up there as Conley was completely behind the free throw line with both feet when he took off. Conley doesn’t quite pull off the same flair that Michael Jordan did for his iconic dunk (not that many people could have), but still, that’s ridiculously impressive – and of course he scored a perfect 10 and won the event.
Mike Conley Jr. might be a better basketball player than his dad, but this jaw-dropping slam is one feat of the old man’s he’ll never be able to duplicate.
(Via Dutton2013)
