Conley’s return is the best story for the Timberwolves this season.

Edwards said he wished for Conley’s return, and so Conley returned.

After transferring between the Bulls and Hornets in just two days, Conley re-signed a minimum salary contract with the Timberwolves. When he was traded before, Edwards spoke candidly in an interview:

“He’s my close brother, like an elder sibling to me. Whenever I struggled, he always lent a hand. I have been hearing rumors about his return and truly hope it happens. We want him to see this message. We want you back, Mike. He knows how much we all miss him.”

Essentially, the Timberwolves did not want to trade Conley, but his $10.77 million contract combined with stats of 4.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists made it difficult for the team not to use him as a tax-avoidance piece. Keeping such a veteran with limited on-court impact was too costly.

When the Timberwolves traded Conley, they probably didn’t expect him to return so soon. However, after Conley was traded twice rapidly—first by the Bulls, then waived by the Hornets—he became eligible to re-sign with the Timberwolves. According to the rules, if a player is traded a second time within the same season, he can rejoin the original trading team.

By re-signing with the Timberwolves, Conley effectively kept his original salary intact and added approximately $1.5 million from the minimum contract. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves significantly reduced their luxury tax. It’s rare to see such a perfect outcome from a single trade.

Mike Conley entered the NBA in 2007 and is now 38 years old. His childhood friend, number one pick Oden, left the league 12 years ago, yet Conley still battles in the NBA, still chasing his ultimate dream.

In the 2024 playoffs, Conley privately asked his teammates: “Guys, please win the championship for me this time, help me out. While I still have energy, let’s give it our all! My time is running out.” Two years have flown by; the Timberwolves reached the Western Conference Finals twice but haven’t advanced further. Conley’s time is truly running short, and this time his tank is genuinely empty.

In 2024, he averaged 11.4 points and 5.9 assists per game; in 2025, his stats dropped to 8.2 points and 4.5 assists; this year, Conley lost his starting spot, and all his statistics hit career lows. At the 2007 draft combine, Conley ranked fourth among all players in physical testing — his speed and vertical leap were elite, and he even surpassed Noah in bench press repetitions.

His father was an Olympic triple jump champion, and Conley inherited his athletic genes perfectly. But no matter the talent, time eventually takes its toll. Although Conley’s playing style rarely relied heavily on physicality throughout his career, his body has finally begun to show signs of wear at this age.

He is already showing negative effects on the court, with a three-point shooting percentage of only 32.1%, yet the Timberwolves still brought him back. Even his teammates wanted him back because his presence makes everyone feel comfortable.

In 1,216 career games and 37,409 minutes, Conley has never received a technical foul — an unprecedented record. He is recognized as one of the NBA’s gentlemen, a humble and gracious figure. Both on and off the court, Conley is a genuinely good person.

He has earned over $200 million in his career and generously gives back to the community and even to his teammates. Since joining the Timberwolves, he has prepared Christmas gifts for teammates every year, naturally becoming the one who holds the locker room together.

Although he has never won a championship or made an All-NBA team, and only made a consolation All-Star appearance in 2021, winning the sportsmanship award four times defines Conley’s career. At his peak, he was one of the best point guards in the West; had he played in the East, he would have been selected for the All-Star game multiple times.

He is the type of point guard coaches love — strictly following tactical instructions, never selfishly chasing stats, always playing the right basketball. A player like him deserves another chance to compete for a championship at the end of his career.

Now, it’s up to the young Timberwolves to take it from here.