- Paris Olympics takeaways: What did Team USA’s crunch-time lineup say about NBA’s hierarchy?Posted 3 months ago
- Zach Edey posted an easy double-double in Summer League debut. Here’s why he’ll succeed in NBAPosted 4 months ago
- What will we most remember these champion Boston Celtics for?Posted 5 months ago
- After long, seven-year road filled with excruciating losses, Celtics’ coast to NBA title felt ‘surreal’Posted 5 months ago
- South Florida men’s basketball is on an unbelievable heater– but also still on the bubblePosted 9 months ago
- Kobe Bufkin is balling out for Atlanta Hawks’ G League team. When will he be called up to NBA?Posted 10 months ago
- Former Knicks guards Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett may yet prove Raptors won the OG Anunoby tradePosted 10 months ago
- Rebounding savant Oscar Tshiebwe finally gets NBA chance he’s deserved for yearsPosted 11 months ago
- Is Tyrese Maxey vs. Tyrese Haliburton the next great NBA guard rivalry?Posted 1 year ago
- The Detroit Pistons are going to be a problem in a few yearsPosted 1 year ago
NBA Draft Profile: Kelly Olynyk
- Updated: May 2, 2013
KELLY OLYNYK
7-0, 240 lbs.
School: Gonzaga
Class: Junior
AP Photo/Reed Saxon
STRENGTHS: Olynyk was one of the best big men in the nation last season, averaging 17.8 points and 7.3 boards per game. He’s got a polished post game, and can score in a variety of ways underneath. His back-to-the basket skills are terrific, and he knows how to position himself on the block. Though other centers in this class have more athleticism, Olynyk might be the best offensive player of them all. He’s a good mid-range shooter and has range up to 15-18 feet. The Zags’ big man also shot 77% from the free throw line last season. Olynyk redshirted in 2012, and was probably the most improved player in the nation this season. He was one of the major reasons why Gonzaga won 32 games and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAAs.
WEAKNESSES: He’s not athletic enough. Much of his struggles in the NBA will derivate from that simple yet inexorable problem. Though he has no trouble getting up and down the floor, Olynyk is slow for the NBA game and will have trouble keeping up with the elite-level big men. While he has a good post game, he sometimes struggles against good defenders. The low level of competition he plays against in the WCC could hurt his stock, as could the fact that he only put up big numbers in one season.
BOTTOM LINE: His ceiling isn’t very high, but there’s still a chance that Olynyk can develop into a solid NBA center, along the lines of an Andrew Bogut or Nick Collison. Olynyk has a refined offensive game and should have no problem scoring at the next level. He’s also a good shooter, and has the length and size to be a good rebounder. But a lack of elite-level athleticism and quickness could hurt him.
