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Kelly Olynyk has been at it for awhile.
He started his professional basketball career in 2013 with the Boston Celtics — that’s coming up on 13 years. He made it to the playoffs several times early on in his tenure, even making it to the championship series with the Miami Heat in 2020, but ultimately losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6.
But now, the 7-foot-tall, 35-year-old from Kamloops, B.C., has the opportunity for redemption, as his current team, the San Antonio Spurs, takes on the New York Knicks in the 2026 NBA Finals.
“It would kind of be the cherry on the top of the cake for Kelly and his career,” his father, Ken Olynyk, told CBC’s Daybreak Kamloops. “He's had a great NBA career so far. I'm sure he hopes it's extended for another couple years, but it would be, definitely, the pinnacle for him to have a ring and an NBA championship.”
Though the veteran’s playing time has been drastically reduced this season, Ken Olynyk says his son now offers more than just points on the scoreboard for his team — he’s grown into a leader and a mentor.
“He's played in over 50 NBA postseason games, so … just that understanding of how the playoffs are going to be different than the regular season,” he said.
Two men in the air as one takes a shot in basketball
San Antonio Spurs forward Kelly Olynyk (8) is fouled by Sacramento Kings forward Doug McDermott (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Justine Willard) (Justine Willard/The Associated Press)
Ken Olynyk says he and his wife are proud of the way their son pays it forward with his teammates. Having been treated with care and respect by former Celtics teammate Rajon Rondo, Olynyk aims to do the same for others, he added.
“This year he bought the whole San Antonio Spurs, they had to measure it up when they were in Miami, and then for the first playoff game, they all had a suit that Kelly had donated to each of them,” Ken Olynyk said.
"So it's kind of that presence and that ability to say, ‘Hey, you know what, everything we do is important. These are kind of some of the things that I can do individually to help younger players understand what it's going to be like for their careers.’”
The Spurs lost the first two games of the finals, but will hit the court on Monday night for Game 3.
Logan Stankoven
Meanwhile, Logan Stankoven is making Kamloops proud as he and the Carolina Hurricanes make a play for the Stanley Cup.
He scored against the Golden Knights on Thursday in the team’s 4-3 win, which brought the series to a tie. Last night, the team took a 2-1 lead by defeating the Hurricanes 5-4 in double overtime.
Seeing both Olynyk and Stankoven in their professional league finals is exciting, but not surprising, Ken Olynyk said, given Kamloops’s love of sport; it is the Tournament Capital of Canada, after all.
“The facilities, the sporting facilities, fields, soccer fields, baseball fields, ice rinks, you know, now pickleball, it's just a community that embraces sport,” Ken Olynyk said. “You don't find these kind of facilities in any other town this size or city this size unless you go to the United States.”