Kelly Olynyk and wife Jackie are expecting an addition to their roster, with a baby girl due to arrive in September.
Preparation for parenthood was complexified this summer when the seven-foot NBA star was traded — twice — and landed with Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
The South Kamloops secondary graduate Olynyk made a pit stop last month in Kamloops and set aside a few minutes to chat about the eventful off-season and reflect on his father’s battle with cancer.
Olynyk has a unique trade story to tell, learning of his move to the Washington Wizards from the New Orleans Pelicans on June 24 while flying home from a vacation in South Korea.
“We didn’t have wi-fi,” Olynyk said. “We were going over the North Pole or something. When you hit Alaska, you get wi-fi. My friend we were with logged in and he was like, ‘Yo, you’ve got to log in.” All of a sudden, my phone was blowing up like crazy.”
Olynyk’s agent confirmed the legitimacy of the transaction when they landed and eight days later the NBA journeyman was in Washington to undergo a physical examination and meet with Wizards’ brass.
“It went really well,” Olynyk said. “They were like, ‘We love your game. We love what you do. We think you’d be a fit great with our group.’ All of a sudden, the next day, I was traded to San Antonio.”
Olynyk has been part of nine NBA organizations and will be playing for his eighth team when he takes the floor with the Spurs this fall, the Dallas Mavericks’ first-round draft pick (13th overall, 2013) now entering his 13th professional season.
He said the transient nature of his career has been rewarding in many ways, allowing him to learn from a variety of coaches, compile an extensive list of friends and former teammates, and experience new cities and cultures, which Jackie has also enjoyed.
But at 34 years old and with a child on the way, Olynyk would welcome stability and hopes to find it with the Spurs, aiming to have a great season in a contract year and ink an extension in San Antonio.
“That would be an ideal plan and win a championship somewhere along that way,” said Olynyk, whose career earnings to date are U.S. $108,161,784, according to spotrac.com.
“It’s a great landing spot for me to be a versatile basketball player and fit in. They’ve got a great group of young guys, super talented. Hopefully, I can add some value and bring some experience.”
The move to the Lone Star State means more air miles for Kelly’s parents, Ken and Arlene, who will be welcoming their first granddaughter in September.
Ken Olynyk said he has returned to health following a fight against cancer.
“I’m thankful to be here, thankful for family, and cherish every day,” said Olynyk, the former athletics and recreation director at Thompson Rivers University who had a bone marrow transplant in September of 2023.
Olynyk was asked about the impact of his father’s health scare.
“It was tough because they say 25 to 50 percent of the time you don’t make it,” Olynyk said. “It was tough to deal with and play at the same time, especially being so removed. My family was with him. I couldn’t be there. But any time I had a day off or a break in the schedule, I would fly up there and see him as much as I could, and give him my support and all the love and blessings you can. He’s battled through it and bounced back stronger than he was before. It’s a testament to his fight, belief, and spirit. Hopefully, he can stay cancer free and keep living a great life.”
Jackie, who is from Montana but lived in Texas for about 10 years after college, posted on Instagram when the Spurs trade was announced to say her daughter will be donning cowboy boots.
“I’ll leave that one up to her,” Kelly said with a laugh. “I don’t think I have any freedom to dress the baby when it comes. My style is not appreciated in my relationship. She’s unbelievable, getting everything ready and in place. I don’t know where I’d be without her.”