Kelly Olynyk was drafted as the No. 13 overall pick by the Boston Celtics . The team’s decision to go with the Gonzaga standout has received criticism since the NBA Draft this past Thursday, but his head coach in college believes he has what it takes to win games.
The Celtics have recently completed a blockbuster deal that sent Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets, so they could use some depth going into next season. They also lost head coach Doc Rivers to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Celtics are now forced with rebuilding their team around Rajon Rondo. Their draft choices may not have been as impressive as fans were hoping, but Gonzaga coach Mark Few has complete trust in his former star in Olynyk.
“He’s got an IQ like a point guard. It’s that high,” Few told the Boston Herald . “He knows what we are supposed to be doing. He knows what the opponent is doing, so he really has a great feel for the game.”
Kelly Olynyk led the Bulldogs to a No. 1 ranking in the NCAA polls last year and he’s now prepared to take his talents to the NBA. The Celtics quickly lost their contender status after trading away two of their stars, but the big man from Canada could surprisingly be just what they need.
“I think he’s a highly competitive person and player,” Few added. “I think it’s not something he will fear and it will be something he will look forward to. You just put him on the floor and he’s going to do whatever it takes to win.”
In his last season at Gonzaga, Olynyk averaged 17.8 points per game along with 7.3 rebounds. His effort on the court doesn’t seem questionable, but many critics are concerned that his talent won’t transition to the NBA level.
No matter how good you are there’s always room for debate if you’re taken in the first round of the NBA Draft. Expectations are always high and one sign of struggle could put you in a hole for the rest of your career.
Kelly Olynyk hopes to erase any doubt that Celtics’ fans have, but only time will tell how good his game translates into the NBA.
