GOOD NEWS: Returning home to play for the Raptors for…
Kelly Olynyk was probably the NBA player who was most happy to be moved to the Toronto Raptors. Before his new teammates faced the Houston Rockets on Friday night in Toronto, Olynyk’s former home before moving to Kamloops, British Columbia, the seasoned big man was beaming.
“It was really exciting when it heated up and I realised there was a shot to come here, but I didn’t know how serious it was,” Olynyk remarked. It’s a moment of complete circle. Looking back at your life, accomplishments, and how significant the Raptors have been in my life is extremely wonderful. Here, my mother kept score. For a year, my father worked here as an associate coach. You know, even just playing Raptors in the driveway as a child… Thus, wearing this jersey along with other shirts, hats, and accessories. He stated, “It’s like, there are just no adequate words to describe it.”
Olynyk was dealt to the Raptors from the Utah Jazz on Thursday, alongside prospect Ochai Agbaji, who also talked about the trade.
It’s a great city, all right. Love it thus far,” commented Agbaji. “Yesterday morning, I genuinely woke up to the news.” When my agent contacted, she told me to be ready for the possibility that I would be involved in a trade with Kelly to Toronto. Thus, thirty minutes or so later. Our General Manager phoned me, and then Masai (Ujiri) called. Essentially, he was expressing that, “You know, you’re with family now.” I’ve known him for the past five or six years. And he and my dad are really close. Thus, before joining the squad and getting to know him well, they kind of grew up together and had such relationships. Thus, having arrived here, he is correct.
Olynyk, who lived a large portion of his youth in Toronto, is now genuinely with family (and friends). When his mother Arlene became the first female scorekeeper in NBA history in 1995, he went to the team’s inaugural game. For the next ten years, he was in and around the SkyDome, Maple Leaf Gardens, and Air Canada Centre.
“This city, this country, and everything that has given me support and love has been phenomenal throughout my whole career. It’s really really special and I know how much it means,” he remarked. “I’m really blessed to have this opportunity to come here and now give back to them, play in front of them, and give this organisation franchises your all.”
This summer, Olynyk captained the Canadian senior men’s team, who qualified for the Olympics for the first time since 2000 and won bronze in the FIBA World Cup. Olynyk began representing Canada in sports at the age of 19 in 2010. He is currently back in Toronto alongside RJ Barrett, a young player on that squad who happens to be the son of Rowan Barrett, Canada’s general manager.
It’s absurd. It’s great, but I don’t know how likely it is that we will both be traded to the same team, Olynyk remarked. “I play with RJ for a month every summer, but now I get to do it full-time. I’m aware of his potential and I’ll never stop encouraging him to reach his full potential.
If Olynyk doesn’t sign an extension with the Raptors before the summer, he will become an unrestricted free agency. On Friday, he expressed his willingness to turn this into a long-term agreement. Yes, that would be wonderful. Hopefully, my dream of staying here for the duration of my career comes true.
