Kelly Olynyk
A skilled and cerebral Canadian big man whose unique passing and shooting touch made him a valuable asset on contenders from Boston to Miami's NBA Finals run.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Canadian basketball player·Birthday: April 19·Millennials
Biography
Kelly Olynyk has built a long and impactful NBA career by defying the traditional expectations for a seven-footer. Coming out of Gonzaga, where he was a college player of the year finalist, he brought an unusual package of size and skill to the league. He wasn't just a post player; he was a facilitator with guard-like instincts, a reliable three-point shooter, and a constant irritant to opponents with his clever, physical play. After being drafted by Boston, he became a key piece for the Celtics before his game found a perfect fit in Miami. With the Heat, his versatility was fully weaponized, playing a crucial role in their unexpected run to the 2020 NBA Finals in the Orlando bubble. Now a veteran leader and captain of the Canadian national team, Olynyk's intelligence and adaptability have made him a lasting commodity in a league that increasingly values big men who can do it all.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kelly was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kelly Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Kelly's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Helped the Miami Heat reach the 2020 NBA Finals as a key rotational player.
- Earned consensus second-team All-American honors in his final season at Gonzaga University in 2013.
- Selected in the first round (13th overall) of the 2013 NBA draft.
- Serves as the captain of the Canadian men's national basketball team.
Did You Know?
He was born in Toronto, Ontario, but grew up in Kamloops, British Columbia.
His father, Ken, was a longtime university basketball coach in Canada.
He won the West Coast Conference Player of the Year award in 2013.
He is known for his distinctive long hair and beard.
“I'm a seven-footer who can dribble, pass, and shoot; I had to expand the definition of a big man.”
