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| Kelly Olynyk | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kelly Olynyk |
| Position | Center / Power forward |
| Height | 7 ft 0 in |
| Weight | 235 lb |
| League | National Basketball Association |
| Team | Houston Rockets |
| Birth date | March 19, 1991 |
| Birth place | Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada |
| College | Gonzaga University |
| Draft year | 2013 |
| Draft pick | 13 |
| Draft team | Boston Celtics |
Kelly Olynyk
Kelly Olynyk is a Canadian professional basketball player known for his versatility as a seven-foot center and power forward who plays in the National Basketball Association. He rose from British Columbia through the Canadian junior system to a decorated college tenure at Gonzaga, became a first‑round draft pick, and has played for multiple NBA franchises while representing Canada in international competition. Olynyk combines perimeter shooting, post play, and playmaking, contributing on club rosters and national teams across tournaments.
Born in Kamloops, British Columbia, Olynyk grew up in a sports family linked to hockey and basketball communities including connections to Vancouver, Kelowna, and Victoria (British Columbia). He attended high school at St. Thomas Aquinas and later at Riverside Secondary School, developing alongside peers who competed in British Columbia High School Basketball circuits and provincial championships. During this period he participated in events associated with Canada Basketball programs and met coaches with ties to Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and College Basketball scouts from NCAA Division I programs such as Gonzaga Bulldogs. His junior career overlapped with other Canadian prospects who matriculated to Oregon Ducks, Washington Huskies, and Arizona Wildcats recruitment efforts.
Olynyk enrolled at Gonzaga University and played for the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball from 2009 to 2013 under head coach Mark Few. As a Bulldog he earned honors in the West Coast Conference and competed in the NCAA Tournament with teammates who faced programs such as Duke Blue Devils, Kentucky Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Michigan Wolverines, and North Carolina Tar Heels. He recorded performances against opponents from conferences including the Big Ten Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Southeastern Conference, and Pac-12 Conference. Olynyk's senior season produced national recognition including consideration from analysts at ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and USA Today and selection to postseason parties associated with the NCAA All-American conversation and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame watchlists. Gonzaga's schedule brought him into matchups at venues linked to Madison Square Garden, Staples Center, and Rupp Arena during nonconference tournaments.
Selected 13th overall in the 2013 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics, Olynyk joined a franchise with history tied to figures like Bill Russell, Larry Bird, and Red Auerbach. He debuted in the National Basketball Association amid seasons featuring players such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Russell Westbrook. After several seasons in Boston he was traded to the Miami Heat, linking his career to coaches including Erik Spoelstra and front offices with histories involving Pat Riley and Micky Arison. Subsequent moves placed him on rosters with the Toronto Raptors, connecting him to Masai Ujiri, and the Houston Rockets under management associated with Tilman Fertitta. Throughout his NBA tenure he faced opponents from franchises like the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat. His NBA career included playoff appearances, matchups in the NBA Playoffs, and play under collective bargaining frameworks shaped by the National Basketball Players Association and the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Olynyk has represented Canada men's national basketball team at various levels, competing in competitions such as the FIBA Basketball World Cup and qualifying events tied to FIBA Americas Championship and Olympic qualifying tournaments. He teamed with Canadian stars including Andrew Wiggins, R.J. Barrett, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, and P.J. Tucker in international play. Canada's campaigns intersected with programs from United States men's national basketball team, Argentina national basketball team, Brazil national basketball team, Spain national basketball team, France national basketball team, Lithuania national basketball team, Serbia national basketball team, Greece national basketball team, and Australia national basketball team in FIBA events, World Cup qualifiers, and friendly tournaments. National team participation involved coordination with Canada Basketball leadership and training at facilities associated with national Olympic preparations.
Olynyk's playing style blends perimeter shooting, post play, and court vision, enabling him to stretch defenses with three-point shooting against bigs and guards such as Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Karl-Anthony Towns. He operates in pick-and-roll sets similar to schemes run by teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat and executes actions favored by coaches in the NBA and NCAA alike. Scouts from outlets including Bleacher Report, The Athletic, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and CBS Sports have analyzed his footwork, shooting mechanics, and passing ability relative to contemporaries like Marc Gasol, Brook Lopez, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kristaps Porziņģis, and Bam Adebayo. His defensive matchups have required positional switches against perimeter-oriented forwards from franchises such as the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers.
Olynyk's family includes relatives involved in ice hockey and community sport organizations across British Columbia and engagements with charitable efforts tied to organizations like Right To Play and local Canadian initiatives. Off the court he has participated in summer basketball clinics linked to Canada Basketball, alumni events at Gonzaga University, and community appearances coordinated with NBA team foundations such as the Celtics Charitable Foundation and Heat Community Foundation. He has been featured in media coverage from outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and Vancouver Sun.
Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian basketball players Category:Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball players Category:National Basketball Association players