Kelly Olynyk Facts for Kids

Men's basketball

Representing Canada
FIBA World Cup
Bronze	2023 Philippines–Japan–Indonesia
FIBA AmeriCup
Bronze	2015 Mexico City
FIBA Americas U18 Championship
Bronze	2008 Formosa

Kelly Tyler Olynyk (born April 19, 1991) is a Canadian professional basketball player. He plays for the Toronto Raptors in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Kelly also leads the Canadian national team as their captain.

He played college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. In 2013, he was named an All-American. After college, Kelly was picked 13th in the 2013 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks. He was then traded to the Boston Celtics. Later, he played for the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, and Utah Jazz.

Early Life and Basketball Beginnings
High School Basketball Journey
College Career at Gonzaga
Professional Basketball Career
National Team Career
Career Statistics
Personal Life and Family
Images for kids

Early Life and Basketball Beginnings

Kelly Olynyk was born in Toronto, Canada. He started playing basketball when he was very young. He played on a club team called the Scarborough Blues. Another future NBA player, Cory Joseph, was on that team too. They almost always won their games.

When Kelly was in grade 7, his family moved to Kamloops, British Columbia.

High School Basketball Journey

Kelly went to South Kamloops Secondary School in Canada. He didn't go to a high school in the United States. Instead, he played on teams that competed against U.S. schools. He also played for the Canadian junior national team.

Kelly started as a point guard. Even after growing from 6'3" to 6'10" in grade 11, he kept playing that position. This helped him learn to handle the ball well. Many top colleges wanted him to play for them. He chose Gonzaga because it was closer to home.

In his final year of high school, Kelly was named the best player in British Columbia. He also played quarterback for his high school football team. He broke his arm during a playoff game in 2007.

College Career at Gonzaga

Kelly Olynyk playing for Gonzaga.

Kelly played college basketball for the Gonzaga team from 2009 to 2013. In his first two years, he mostly played from the bench. He averaged about 12 to 13 minutes per game.

To get better and stronger, Kelly decided to "redshirt" his junior year (2011–12). This meant he would practice with the team but not play in games. This helped him improve a lot.

When he returned for the 2012–13 season, Kelly had an amazing year. He was named a Consensus First-Team All-American. He also earned a spot on the Academic All-America first team for his good grades. After this great season, he decided to enter the NBA draft. He had already finished his college degree in accounting.

Professional Basketball Career

Playing for the Boston Celtics (2013–2017)

In 2013, the Dallas Mavericks picked Kelly 13th in the NBA draft. But they immediately traded him to the Boston Celtics. Kelly signed his first NBA contract with the Celtics in July 2013.

In his first season (2013–14), he averaged 8.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie second team. In December 2014, he scored a career-high 30 points in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Kelly played for the Celtics until 2017. He helped them reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017. In a big playoff game against the Washington Wizards, he scored 14 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter. This helped the Celtics win and move forward.

Time with the Miami Heat (2017–2021)

In July 2017, Kelly signed a four-year contract with the Miami Heat. In his first game for the Heat, he scored 10 points. In December 2017, he scored a new career-high of 32 points against his old team, the Boston Celtics.

In 2020, Kelly helped the Heat reach the 2020 NBA Finals. They played against the Los Angeles Lakers but lost the series.

Moving to the Houston Rockets (2021)

In March 2021, Kelly was traded to the Houston Rockets. He played well in his debut game, scoring 16 points. In April, he had a season-high 28 points in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

With the Detroit Pistons (2021–2022)

In August 2021, Kelly signed a contract with the Detroit Pistons. In November, he injured his knee during a game. This injury kept him from playing for at least six weeks.

Joining the Utah Jazz (2022–2024)

In September 2022, Kelly was traded to the Utah Jazz. In October, he scored 20 points in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. He even made the game-winning shot!

Playing for the Toronto Raptors (2024–Present)

In February 2024, Kelly was traded to the Toronto Raptors. This brought him back to his hometown. In March, he signed a new contract to stay with the Raptors for several more years.

National Team Career

Kelly Olynyk is a very important player for the Canadian national team. In 2022, he committed to playing with the team for three years. He was named captain of Canada's team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Career Statistics

Kelly Olynyk has played many games in the NBA and college. He has achieved impressive statistics throughout his career, showing his skills in scoring, rebounding, and assisting.

Personal Life and Family

Kelly's family has a strong connection to basketball. His father, Ken, was a men's basketball coach at the University of Toronto. He also coached the Canadian junior men's national team. Kelly's mother, Arlene, was a basketball referee. She also worked for the Toronto Raptors as the first female NBA scorekeeper.

In 2003, Kelly's family moved to Kamloops, British Columbia. Kelly has two sisters, Jesse and Maya. Maya also played college basketball in Canada. Kelly's family has Ukrainian roots.

Images for kids

Kelly Olynyk playing for Gonzaga.

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Kelly Olynyk facts for kids

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