Michael Conley spent the majority of his summer in Columbus, but as he recovered from injuries he suffered during last season, the former Ohio State star point guard didn't get to do much playing.
On Monday night, he finally got to lace up his shoes again in the city he once played.
Conley and his Memphis Grizzlies were in town Monday night for a preseason game with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Both guys are stars in the NBA, and while one played for the Buckeyes and the other did not, they both are beloved by the program the same.
James has his own locker in Ohio State's locker room and recently had a display installed with every shoe of his the program has worn. The Buckeyes' strength and conditioning facility is named after Conley.
For both, being back in Columbus was special.
“Felt good to just see the crowd," Conley said after the game, which the Grizzlies won against the shorthanded Cavs, 91-81. "When you look down at the court, it’s something familiar. It was cool to see the response the crowd gave me during the starting lineup. It was just a fun environment.”
“It was fun," James added. "The fans are always great to us and for our league to be able to bring two very good teams here to this building, it was good.”
Congrats to @mconley11 on the win tonight @TheSchott - great having you back on campus #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/2ENm4GKp4D
— OSU BASKETBALL (@OhioStateHoops) October 13, 2015
For Conley, specifically, though, it was an opportunity for him to revisit the place where he once starred, despite the fact he was only around for one season. Conley got to reconnect with Ohio State head coach Thad Matta and said he spent the bulk of his time doing a bunch of different things.
He's still active in Ohio State's program, too. As the starting point guard for one of the NBA's best teams, Conley admits it's difficult to keep up with everything during the season because they overlap, but he does his best.
"I have a couple guys that work for OSU basketball that I text a lot throughout the year," Conley said. "I’ll check on the ESPN apps and all kinds of things that going on. Just trying to stay in touch with as many people from Columbus as I can just so I know what’s going on.”
Conley said his favorite moment at Ohio State was the final game he played at the Schottenstein Center against Wisconsin when he hit the game-winner. He remembers the feeling that day and says it's one he'll remember the rest of his life.
As one of the great Buckeyes of the Matta era, Conley is still beloved in Columbus. As is James, a figure who is treated like he is one of Ohio State's own. One is a former Buckeye and the other an honorary one.
As far as this year's Ohio State team goes, though?
"I watched a little bit [of summer workouts]," Conley said. "They’ve got some talent, but they’re going to have to work to get some stuff done.”
