Conroy returns to Vipers looking to impress and make return to NBA

PHARR — Two seasons ago, as he was celebrating the Rio Grande Valley Vipers’ championship clincher, Will Conroy declared he was done with the NBA Development League.

At the time, he was the league’s all-time leading scorer and assist leader — a distinction he admits was somewhat dubious. In his mind, he did everything he could do at the D-League level. The only thing he couldn’t do was find a permanent home in the NBA.

Circumstances have changed. The compressed NBA season has led to a flux of injuries, and Conroy, a 6-2 point guard, sees an opportunity to move up. For Conroy, the road back to the NBA starts in the D-League, and on Tuesday he agreed to return to the Vipers. He’s expected to play tonight when they play host to Fort Wayne at 7 o’clock tonight at State Farm Arena.

Conroy says this might be his final chance.

“I want to get up top and stick,” said Conroy, who played professionally in Turkey last season. “This could be my last chance to make a splash up there. We’ll see. … I really didn’t want to do it, but the bottom line is that I want to be an NBA player, so I know this is a way I can do that.”

Conroy, 29, is the league’s second all-time leading scorer (3,239 points), second in assists (1,549) and second in minutes (6,907). In addition, he holds several individual single season records including points scored (1,300), field goals made (440) and free throws made (323), all of which occurred during the 2008-09 season when he was with the now-defunct Albuquerque Thunderbirds.

“He’s a high-IQ leader type who possesses a lot of scoring and passing skills,” Vipers coach Nick Nurse said. “But, the biggest thing to me is that his knowledge of the game and his experience will shine through. We’ve got a young team. I think he’ll help these guys by just making better basketball plays.”

Conroy has played with several D-League teams, including the Thunderbirds, Vipers and Tulsa 66ers. He’s had several brief stints in the NBA, including with the Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers. He was in the Minnesota Timberwolves training camp this preseason. After getting cut by the Timberwolves, Conroy returned to Seattle, his hometown, and pondered his next option. Until the Vipers began pursuing him three days ago, he was looking at returning overseas.

“We felt like we could help him, and he could help us,” said Gersson Rosas, who serves as both the Vipers general manager and the vice president of player personnel for the Rockets. “We have a young roster with young point guards that we felt could benefit from his leadership. He could also help himself out. He’s familiar with our style of play. Will is at a point in his career where I think I can help groom some of our young players.”

Rosas said the Vipers have been thinking about pursuing Conroy for about two months. Rosas was able to convince Conroy that playing in the D-League now was his best chance to get to the NBA.

“Getting him to the NBA was the biggest selling point,” Rosas said. “He loves the Valley and he loves the staff. It’s a place where it’s going to enhance your NBA opportunities. You have to be in the game, and you have to be playing.”

While Conroy returned with some reluctance, he said this is his best chance to get noticed by NBA scouts.

“I know that the Rockets and I have a relationship,” Conroy said. “I know they believe in me. I don’t know if it’s going to happen there (in Houston), but being under their system, gives me a leg up. … I love the Valley. It has great weather and great people. It’s the best D-League organization. That’s part of the fun. Getting back on the court is great. I need to be back on the court. We have a nice group of young talent. It sounds like they are moving in the right direction, and hopefully, I can be a leader in the locker room, get some wins and get called up.”

David Hinojosa covers the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4442 or via email at dhinojosa@themonitor.com