Kelly Olynyk, the Gonzaga Bulldogs big man, is officially leaving the NBA to join BC Roma in Italy, a club that’s part of Lega Basket Serie A and the EuroCup. This isn’t just a simple roster move; it’s a veteran calling it quits on his NBA career to start a whole new chapter overseas.
Thirteen Seasons, Eight Teams, One Big Move
Olynyk just wrapped up an NBA Finals run with the San Antonio Spurs this past summer, though his role was pretty limited. He averaged 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in just 8.6 minutes across 42 appearances off the bench. He also hit the NBA Finals with the Miami Heat back in 2020 during the COVID-19 bubble season. Talk about a career! The now 35-year-old Canadian was the 13th overall pick way back in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. Over his 13 seasons, he suited up for 842 regular-season games with eight different franchises. That’s a lot of mileage. He leaves the league with career averages of 9.8 points on 48.6% from the field, 36.9% from three, and 79.4% from the line, plus 5.0 boards and 2.4 dimes per game. Pretty solid numbers for a guy who often brought energy off the bench.
Doncic’s Club and the Gonzaga Connection
Here’s where it gets interesting: BC Roma, Olynyk’s new team, was actually co-founded by Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, who also holds a minority ownership stake. So, it’s not just some random move; there’s a serious NBA connection even as Olynyk steps away from the league. For Gonzaga fans, this means one less alum in the NBA, though the Bulldogs still boast 12 former players expected to be on opening day rosters for the 2026-27 season. It’s a testament to the program’s success, even as one of their own embarks on a new challenge.
So, Olynyk is taking his talents to Italy, leaving behind a long and respectable NBA career for a fresh start with Doncic’s club. It’ll be wild to see how he performs in the Lega Basket Serie A and EuroCup.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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