Kelly Olynyk, a standout from Gonzaga University, is set to leave the NBA to play for BC Roma in Italy’s Lega Basket Serie A and the EuroCup, as reported by multiple sources. The team is notably co-founded by Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, who also holds a minority ownership stake.
During his recent stint with the San Antonio Spurs, Olynyk appeared in 42 games off the bench, averaging 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 8.6 minutes per game, and helped the team reach the NBA Finals last summer. He also played in the 2020 NBA Finals with the Miami Heat inside the NBA’s COVID-19 bubble in Orlando, Florida.
Selected 13th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2013 NBA Draft, Olynyk has played 842 regular-season games for eight different NBA teams over 13 seasons. The 35-year-old forward/center from Toronto has career averages of 9.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 48.6% from the field, 36.9% from three-point range, and 79.4% from the free-throw line.
Gonzaga will have 12 alumni listed on NBA opening day rosters for the 2026-27 season.
Fan Take: Kelly Olynyk’s move to Europe marks a significant transition for a versatile and experienced player, highlighting the growing global connections in basketball. This shift not only enriches the European leagues with NBA talent but also underscores the expanding opportunities for players beyond the NBA, which could further globalize the sport’s appeal.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
