Grizzlies PG dishes on the game of basketball in China

Exploring Chinese culture and hanging out with a multitude of loyal basketball fans is an eye-opening experience for NBA star Mike Conley.

"It's been an unbelievable experience as I get to eat a lot of good food and meet a lot of good people. So I'm really excited about being in China," the Memphis Grizzlies point guard said.

Mike Conley, point guard of the Memphis Grizzlies, takes questions from reporters during the NBA Nation event in Beijing on Saturday. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Conley, with Louis Scola of the Toronto Raptors, has been in Beijing since Friday for NBA Nation, the league's largest free basketball and lifestyle touring event. He leaves today.

The duo tipped off the festivities on Friday by hosting an NBA FIT Clinic, participating in a variety of basketball activities, signing autographs and interacting with fans.

There definitely was a great turnout, as thousands of fans flocked to the event at Indigo Mall in the city's Chaoyang district on Saturday and participated in several entertaining programs.

Imagine this: you make a lucky shot on a six-meter extra-large basketball goal leaving the crowd gasping in awe, then swagger to the next venue where you easily beat your opponent on the NBA 2K15 and get a bottle of Gatorade as the prize.

Are there any better ways to spend a sweltering summer day in Beijing? Probably not.

Even for NBA stars like Conley.

"NBA Nation is fantastic. It is a lot of fun. You can see a lot of young kids come out to play basketball and get a better understanding of the game. If I was a kid I'd want to be here and be part of it," he said.

Mike Conley, point guard of the Memphis Grizzlies, participates in the NBA Nation event in Beijing on Saturday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Conley, 28, usually a serious player, exuded a sense of fun at Saturday's event when he deliberately slowed down to wait for his opponent to catch up in the skills challenge competition. He playfully gave 1,000 points – 100 times a perfect 10 – to a young Chinese who pulled off a 360-degree windmill dunk.

He has every reason to smile. The Grizzlies guard was recently invited by USA Basketball to an upcoming minicamp in Las Vegas, where it is believed members of its 2016 Olympic team will be chosen.

Conley said he is happy to get the invitation and is poised to have a shot at making the final roster.

"I'll just go out there and do what I do during the camp. Hopefully I'll have the opportunity at some point to get called up and get a roster spot."

But even if he doesn't, the tough-minded Grizzlies point guard will use it as motivation to push his game to the next level – he is used to dealing with adversity.

Remember, he sat out only three games after fracturing his face in the first round of the past NBA playoffs.

"Last year I had the most adversity ever with my face being broken and the pressure of coming back or not. I was not feeling 100 percent well but still going out there and staying positive," he said.

Note:

NBA Nation will be staged in Shanghai Aug 7-9 and in Chengdu Aug 21-23 and Sept 3-5, with more stars scheduled to join, including Rajon Rondo of the Sacramento Kings and Harrison Barnes and KlayThompson of the Golden State Warriors.

NBA Nation is sponsored by Anta, Gatorade, Master Kong, Spalding and ZTE.