OKLAHOMA CITY – As the upbeat anthem "Don’t Stop Me Now" echoed through the Paycom Center, celebrating Oklahoma City Thunder fans reveled in their victory, while Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. walked away from the court, his heart heavy once again. With his 18th NBA season coming to a bitter end, Conley faces another year without an NBA championship ring.

At 37 years and 229 days, Conley found himself on the wrong end of a 124-94 defeat in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, marking his third trip to this stage and the second consecutive year of heartbreak. He reflected on this painful journey, acknowledging the challenge of reaching the Finals amidst fierce competition in a 30-team league.

"When I was walking off the floor, I was just thinking, 'Not again.' It felt like a nightmare," Conley shared with Andscape. "Hearing the fanfare, it was a moment where I hoped it wasn’t my last. You want to remember every detail but dread the idea of that being your last memory."

In stark contrast to Conley's anguish, 23-year-old Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards appeared to take the loss in stride. After all, he’s already etched his name in history, having secured an Olympic gold medal and reached the Western Conference finals twice in just six seasons.

While Conley’s disappointment loomed large, Edwards remained optimistic, saying, "It’s thrilling for me! I get to do this many more times. I hurt more for Mike. We tried last year, we tried again this year, and we'll try again next year. But 'hurt' isn’t the right word for me; I’m good.”

Conley’s career tells a different story. Making his first Western Conference finals appearance back in 2013 with the Memphis Grizzlies, he grapples with the reality of a near-miss record of 2-12 in these pivotal games. He understands how fleeting such opportunities can be, making this latest setback sting even more.

"I can’t expect him to fully understand how I feel," Conley said about Edwards. "He has that time ahead of him, and that’s a luxury I know I don’t have anymore. It hurts a lot. I wanted it so badly for these guys."

Wednesday night’s clash revealed the Timberwolves were outmatched. Facing the Thunder—a team boasting the best record in the league at 68-14—Conley’s hopes for a dramatic comeback faded. Despite halftime trailing 65-32, he clung to the belief that one last surge was possible. Yet, the Thunder continued to dominate, quashing any hopes of a miraculous revival.

Edwards candidly admitted, "They came ready to play. We didn’t." while lamenting the missed opportunity for his veteran teammate.

In the locker room, Conley turned to his phone, where supportive messages from friends and his wife, Mary, awaited him. Her simple but poignant words—'I’m so sorry'—underscored the sacrifices made in pursuit of greatness, a sentiment that weighed heavily on Conley.

As he ventured to sum up his feelings, his father, Mike Conley Sr., an Olympic gold medalist himself, was waiting in the hallway. Drawing from his father’s own journey, Conley Sr. offered wisdom: "You have to keep pushing. He wanted to go to a team where he had a chance. He’s there; he just has to figure it out."

With a contract year looming, Conley is committed to returning for his 19th season, setting his sights on the elusive championship. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the team’s future, including key player decisions, Conley remains motivated.

"My body is good," he affirmed, reflecting on his performance this season, where he averaged 8.2 points and 4.5 assists. "I won’t be retiring because of my ability. When the time is right, I’ll know.”

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch voiced his support for Conley, acknowledging the team’s collective disappointment in not achieving their goal this season. "We all wanted to win it all for Mike Conley. His impact on us is immeasurable. We still have him for next year; the goal now is to get back and bring home that trophy for him."