So far, so good for Miami Heat newbie Kelly Olynyk.
The Miami Heat’s acquisition of Kelly Olynyk threw the entire league for a loop. And needless to say, the majority of Heat Nation wasn’t happy.
After all, he yanked Kevin Love‘s shoulder out. Not exactly the type of behavior president Pat Riley should condone.
Fast forward to almost a year later though, and it’s safe to say Riley once again knew exactly what he was doing. A season into his four-year deal, Olynyk is already a man transformed. He followed the steps to get into world-class shape. Fully bought into the organization’s unique culture. And trusted head coach Erik Spoelstra to utilize him in the best way possible.
All of which resulted in career-highs for the forward.
In 76 games, the 27-year-old averaged 11.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists, in 23.4 minutes of play. He found himself as both a starter and came off the bench, sometimes backing up big man Hassan Whiteside and other times, playing alongside him.
Fans should certainly expect big things from Olynyk moving forward, as he already made it clear he’s ready for an expanded role. But first, it’s time to take a quick trip down memory lane and look at some of his best moments from the year.
32 Points in 38 Minutes
Apparently, Olynyk had no problem squaring off against his former team, the Boston Celtics. Because on December 20, 2017, he scored a career-high 32 points in 38 minutes. Even more impressive yet, was how efficient Olynyk was; the forward shot 12-for-15 from the field and 6-for-8 from 3-point land.
Another 30 Points
It was March 19, 2018 and the Heat were hosting the Denver Nuggets. Bam Adebayo was starting for an injured Whiteside, but it was another 7-footer who stole the show. Olynyk finished with 30 points on 11-for-16 shooting, including going 4-for-6 from downtown. He also grabbed eight rebounds, dished six assists, and swatted four blocks. All in 41 minutes of play.
The Assist Man
Olynyk is a man of many talents, but rarely do his playmaking abilities show up on paper. However, on March 21, 2018, the boxscore gave a glimpse into just how well-rounded the Toronto-native is. Olynyk recorded 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting against the New York Knicks, but more notably, also finished with 10 assists. Which probably explains why five of his teammates also notched double-digit points.
Game 1
Miami’s playoff run may have ended prematurely, but Olynyk made sure they started things off on a hot note. In Game 1 of the first round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, No. 9 went to work and posted 26 points in 31 minutes, while shooting 9-for-13 from the field (4-of-5 from beyond-the-arc). He also made himself active on the other end of the court, grabbing seven rebounds.
Next: Should Miami Heat fans blame Dion Waiters for this season?
In conclusion? The Miami Heat found themselves a winner.