NEU » of his career is at another club, Maguire said

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Memphis Grizzlies wanted to keep Mike Conley so much that they gave their veteran point guard the richest contract in NBA history.For Conley, the basketball -- and pressure -- is in his court after signing a five-year, $153 million deal Thursday.Conleys play will be closely monitored during an upcoming season in which he will earn more than new Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant, a seven-time All-Star with four league scoring titles and an NBA Most Valuable Player award. Durant signed a two-year, $54.3 million deal.Conley doesnt expect the lucrative deal to affect his play.Its amazing the opportunity Ive been given, Conley said. As far as the pressure, its hard to really gauge that because I put pressure on myself to perform regardless. The amount of money I make is not going to change how I approach the game. Im going to continue to be aggressive and do a lot better than I did last season and the season before.Conley, a 28-year-old point guard, has played nine seasons with the Grizzlies during which he has averaged 13.5 points and 5.6 assists. He led the Grizzlies to the 2013 Western Conference finals, the farthest the franchise has advanced in the postseason.Ill take the heat right now (on being the highest-paid NBA player), Conley said. Eventually, it will all die down. Two years from now everybody else will be making so much more.In Conleys non-All-Star selection defense, he has played in the Western Conference during his career with point guards Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Tony Parker and Steve Nash.Hes our All-Star, said Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace. Hes an elite point guard in this league. Its unanimous around the league that hes one of the top-tier players at his position, a very crucial position.At an on-court ceremony at FedExForum celebrating the signing, Conley announced he was donating $1 million to the Memphis Grizzlies Foundation, a nonprofit organization that aids at-risk youth in the community. The $1 million was matched by the franchises ownership group led by majority owner Robert Pera.Conley used the press conference -- also attended by Grizzlies MVP season-ticket holders -- to address the recent tragedy in Dallas, where five policemen were killed by a lone gunman, and the nationwide protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.Im a quiet guy, Im very reserved, he said. At the same time, as much as I want to lead by example, I know when its time to speak up. Right now is that time ... Its not about money, we have to be on the forefront to set examples for the kids. We need to become mentors for the youth.Conley has battled injuries the past few seasons and appeared in only 56 games last season because of an Achilles tendon injury. He hasnt played more than 73 games in any of the past three seasons.Ive concentrated solely on (staying healthy) during the offseason, Conley said. I want to be healthy. I want to be able to be here every night and give everything Ive got. Im doing everything I can to be able to do that.Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans, who has been an All-Star selection, had the previous richest contract in league history when he signed a five-year deal last year worth approximately $145 million.Others who have signed max contracts without All-Star game appearances include the Wizards Bradley Beal, Utahs Gordon Hayward and Oklahoma Citys Enes Kanter. Beal signed a $128 million deal this offseason. Utah matched an offer sheet from Charlotte for Hayward worth $63 million for four years in 2014, while Oklahoma City matched Portlands max four-year deal for Kanter last summer for $70 million.Were in the era of the point guard, Wallace said. Theres probably never been a greater collection. But we know Mikes value.We have nine years invested in him. And hes just gotten better and better. Hell thrive in (new) coach (David) Fizdales offense. We never gave a second thought other than doing what it took to get him.NFL Jerseys China . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Cheap NHL Jerseys . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. http://www.jerseysnhlfromchina.us/ .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. Wholesale NHL Jerseys .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. NHL Jerseys China . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year.South Sydney have signed Wests Tigers veteran Robbie Farah for the 2017 and 2018 NRL seasons.With 247 first-grade games to Farahs credit, Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire is pleased to be adding the representative hooker to his squad.Robbie has accomplished many things in the game and we look forward to him joining our squad and pushing for a spot in our top 17 each week, Maguire said.Competition for spots is a driving factor for success at any club and, by adding a player of Robbies ability, we will be increasing that competition within our squad.Within our organisation, we believe Robbie will strengthen our club and we look forward to working with him when he joins us for pre-season training.Farah made his first-grade debut for the Tigers in 20033 against Manly, culminating in a premiership in 2005 with the joint venture and representative honours for NSW and Australia.ddddddddddddTo accommodate Farah, Souths have agreed to a request from hooker Cameron McInnes to be released from the final year of his contract.We wanted to keep Cam here at Souths but he feels that the best opportunity for him at this stage of his career is at another club, Maguire said.Cam has done a great job for us over the three years hes been playing first grade, he has great respect from his peers, hes a fantastic young man and we wish him nothing but the best for the rest of his career.[url=http://www.authenticwholesalejerseys.net/]Cheap Jerseys[/urof his career is at another club, Maguire said