Kelly Olynyk

Kelly Tyler Olynyk is a celebrated Canadian professional basketball player renowned for his power and skill on the court. Born on April 19, 1991, in Toronto, Canada, Olynyk’s passion for basketball began at a young age when he played alongside friend and future NBA player, Cory Joseph, on a Scarborough Blues club team. This team witnessed an impressive winning spree, facing only a few losses in the late 1990s and early 2000s. As his love for the sport continued to grow, Olynyk’s family relocated to Kamloops, British Columbia, when he was just in seventh grade.

Despite the opportunity to attend high school or prep school in the United States, Olynyk chose to remain in Canada and attend South Kamloops Secondary School while sharpening his gameplay on provincial teams, amateur athletic union tournaments in the States, and the Canadian junior national team. At St. Mary’s Secondary in Hamilton, Ontario, he simultaneously participated in Canada’s National program. His basketball journey saw an interesting turn when he transformed from a point guard to a towering 6’10” player during his 11th grade, attracting recruitment offers from top institutions, including Syracuse, Providence, and North Carolina State. Still, he selected Gonzaga to stay closer to his roots.

At Gonzaga, he became an NCAA All-American honours awardee in 2013 and earned the title of Basketball BC’s outstanding high school player of the year. During his time in Gonzaga from 2009 to 2013, Olynyk experienced a period of growth and development. In his initial years, he spent most time on the bench, clocking in approximately 12 to 13 minutes per game. Determined to evolve, Olynyk chose to redshirt his junior year in 2011-12, dedicating this time to train intensively and not participate in any games.

His perseverance paid off as he had a spectacular run in the 2012-13 season, earning selection as a Consensus First-Team All-American. Following such a triumphant season, Olynyk decided to forego his senior year of eligibility and opted for the NBA draft.

In a surprising turn of events during the 2013 NBA draft, Olynyk was picked as the 13th overall selection by the Dallas Mavericks, who immediately traded him to the Boston Celtics. Despite the sudden change, Olynyk took the opportunity in stride and signed his rookie scale contract with the Celtics on July 7, 2013. For the 2014 Rising Stars Challenge, he was picked alongside teammate Jared Sullinger on Team Webber. Following his performance and consistent 8.7 points and 5.2 rebounds in 70 games in 2013-14, Olynyk secured a spot in the NBA All-Rookie second team.

A curveball came in the form of an ankle injury in 2015, sidelining him for 18 games. Olynyk returned to the court in March ready to face the Utah Jazz. His triumphant return was short-lived when he caused Kevin Love’s shoulder injury during a playoff game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

His consistency saw the Celtics renewing his contract twice, extending it through the 2016-17 NBA season. Despite a shoulder injury that required surgery in May 2016, Olynyk made a strong season debut in November that same year. Although Boston lost to the Washington Wizards, Olynyk’s drive remained undeterred.

Moving forward, Olynyk started a new venture by signing a four-year, $50 million contract with the Miami Heat on July 7, 2017. He proved his worth by helping the Heat to reach the 2020 NBA Finals. Following this, on March 25, 2021, Olynyk was traded to the Houston Rockets in a deal that brought Victor Oladipo to Miami. However, that same year, he joined the Detroit Pistons in August. By 2022, he relocated to the Utah Jazz and continues to shine on the court.

In addition to his professional career, Olynyk has played for the Canadian national basketball team, showing his dedication to his home country.

Born to Ken and Arlene Olynyk, basketball runs in his veins. His father, Ken, was the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Toronto while his mother, Arlene, was a Canadian Interuniversity Sport women’s basketball referee. The Olynk family may be the epitome of a basketball-loving family with his mother working as an NBA scorekeeper and his sister, Maya, playing for the Saskatchewan Huskies.

A national treasure and an inspiration to many, Kelly Olynyk continues to pave the way for aspiring Canadian athletes, highlighting that talent combined with determination can conquer the greatest courts in the world.