Kelly Olynyk has found his European home. BC Roma has officially announced the signing of the Canadian center, who at 35 years old is leaving the NBA for his first experience in European basketball. He joins one of the continent's most ambitious projects: the Roman club, where Luka Dončić is a co-owner.
The move had been in the works since the summer, when Superbasket first reported that Roma was close to securing his arrival. The announcement comes with the season already underway: the team has already played its first games in Lega A and the Eurocup.
From Finals-Bound Spurs to Rome
Olynyk arrives after a season in a limited role with San Antonio. With the Spurs team that reached the NBA Finals, he appeared in 42 games, averaging 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in just under nine minutes per game. In the playoffs, he saw minimal action: nine appearances with 2.8 points.
That pales in comparison to his career overall. In eleven NBA seasons, he has accumulated 842 regular season games, averaging 9.8 points and 5.0 rebounds with a 36.9% three-point percentage. He has played for the Celtics, Heat, Rockets, Pistons, Jazz, Raptors, Pelicans, and Spurs.
The Canadian will wear number 22. According to the club, he is completing the paperwork for his Italian entry visa and will arrive in the capital in the coming days.
See Also
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A Center Who Stretches the Floor
Roma head coach Alessandro Magro highlighted during the presentation what Olynyk can contribute from day one: an interior player who understands the game, opens up the court with his three-point shot, and knows how to pass the ball. The coach is confident he will adapt quickly to his systems.
The player himself expressed enthusiasm about his new chapter. He said he is eager to arrive in Rome, meet his teammates, and start working with the team.
A Career That Started in Boston
Born in Toronto in 1991, Olynyk made his name at Gonzaga University. In the 2013 draft, he was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 13th pick, and his rights were traded that same night to the Celtics, where he debuted and made the All-Rookie Second Team in 2014. With Canada, he won bronze at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
In Rome, he will find a project with ambition and international visibility, driven by Dončić's presence in ownership, where his experience will be one of the assets for both Lega A and the Eurocup.