Avery Bradley thinks Kelly Olynyk has a ‘perfect situation’ in Houston
In seven games with the Houston Rockets, big man Kelly Olynyk has already proven to be a savvy pickup by general manager Rafael Stone. Count longtime teammate Avery Bradley as among the many admirers.
Now 29 years old, Olynyk is currently averaging 17.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 28.9 minutes per game, and he’s shooting 59.7% from the field and 41.7% on 3-pointers. To Bradley, who was also teammates with Olynyk in Miami and Boston, it’s the “perfect situation.”
In comments from Thursday’s practice, Bradley said of Olynyk:
I think Kelly’s game has evolved over these years, just like the NBA has. This is just the perfect situation for Kelly. He’s a great shooter, pick-and-pop, being able to play with unselfish guys. His IQ level is so high, I feel like he makes the game easier for everyone around him, as well.
But he’s such a great shooter, and in today’s game, whenever you can have a seven-footer that can shoot the way Kelly does, I feel like it opens up the game. Not only for himself, but for everyone.
Avery Bradley has played on three NBA teams with Kelly Olynyk, and he thinks Houston is perfect for his longtime teammate.
"This is just the perfect situation for Kelly. … His IQ level is so high, I feel like he makes the game easier for everyone around him, as well." #Rockets pic.twitter.com/uQya0RXlTR
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) April 8, 2021
Best of all, Olynyk’s numbers have contributed to team success. In Wednesday’s surprising win over Dallas, Olynyk had a career-high 18 rebounds, and he also played well in Monday’s single possession loss to the Phoenix Suns, who are No. 2 in the Western Conference.
Olynyk’s contract expires after this season, so Stone has plenty of work ahead to keep him in Houston for future seasons. But it has certainly been a successful start, with hopes clearly growing of longer-term fit.
Related
Kelly Olynyk grabs career-high 18 rebounds as Rockets stun Mavs
Yes. They really like him and have liked him for a long time https://t.co/C9d7MoReOO
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) April 8, 2021
I always knew Kelly Olynyk was a solid (albeit unspectacular) player. But I never realized just how good he was until he joined the #Rockets. Fundamentally sound in so many aspects of his game.
— David Weiner (@BimaThug) April 8, 2021
Silas says Kelly Olynyk and John Wall are the ones who get the team organized when they employ multiple defensive coverages.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) April 8, 2021
Stephen Silas on Kelly Olynyk: "He does whatever we need him to do…We obviously wouldn't have won this game without his contributions."
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) April 8, 2021
“I really wanted to focus on getting everyone involved and to make sure we were playing well as a unit and just getting off the ball making sure other guys got shots,”said center Kelly Olynyk when asked about the sacrifice he made offensively in the win against the Mavs. #Rockets pic.twitter.com/Qzp2dfcOCd
— BIG SARGE MEDIA LLC (@BigSargeSportz) April 8, 2021
