I was wrong about Kelly Olynyk

I did not expect Kelly Olynyk to have a season quite like this. While I, like many others, thought he had a decent offensive game, I didn’t think his ability would translate well in the NBA. He moved his body awkwardly, his defense left a lot to be desired, and he didn’t have the speed to keep up with others who would guard him on the perimeter. I thought that if Olynyk had a prayer of making a career in the NBA, he’d have to be more of a low-post player instead of a shooter. He’s been able to score just fine, and his defense seems to be steadily improving as well. It’s getting to the point where he’s looked at as one of the better defenders on the team.

Many Celtics fans wanted to equate Olynyk to a “Dirk Nowitzki” type of player, but I had my doubts that he could even be 1/8 the kind of player Nowitzki is. While I do not think the Canadian will become a Hall of Famer, he certainly has improved and makes me think it was a solid choice to select the former Gonzaga Bulldog 13th overall in the 2013 NBA draft.

Prior to this season, I had grown very frustrated with Olynyk’s play. He was tentative when looking for his shot and he would play like he’s Isaiah Thomas‘ height, unlike the seven-footer he is. He wouldn’t rebound at the same rate I thought he could accomplish either, once again showing how he played smaller than his height. Plus, Olynyk had many games where he looked lost on the floor.

That’s why I believed that forwards like Jared Sullinger, David Lee, and Amir Johnson would be Brad Stevens‘ primary bigs. I thought this roster had enough quality front court players and didn’t need Olynyk. I had already buried the third-year player, thinking that the Celtics should look into trading him. I had my biases against Olynyk because I thought he wouldn’t even be a decent role player. In fact, Olynyk has not only exceeded my expectations but he’s turned into a center who I think should be starting for the Celtics.

Just looking at some of the hot stretches Olynyk has displayed during the Celtics recent winning streaks illustrate why I have been so impressed with his development. Olynyk averages 12.4 points in wins compared to 7.9 in losses for the Celtics this season. His points per game, shooting percentage, and rebounds have all improved in small increments, according to Basketball-Reference.com.

So as Olynyk has developed, why is he now viewed as a more promising prospect? Just look at his per 36 minutes averages for this season compared to his previous ones. His per 36 averages have him scoring more points (17.8), creating more assists (2.9), and blocking more shots (1.1). His rebounds are the same, when he’s been given more consistent minutes, and he shoots around 46-47 percent from the field.

But where Olynyk has shined the most this year is in his three-point shooting. As of February 2, Olynyk is the league’s tenth best shooter from beyond the arc, at a staggering 43.0 percent. Before his most recent game against the Orlando Magic, Olynyk was the sixth best three-point shooter in the NBA. His percentage has improved nearly 10 percent since last season. That shows he has been much more aggressive on offense due to his shooting numbers this season.

He has worked especially well with teammate Jonas Jerebko; the picture was painted beautifully by ESPNBoston’s Chris Forsberg. The team usually out-scores their opponents when on the floor together; their skills compliment each other very well. They help with court spacing when they play at the four and the five spots, creating more open shots. Plus, they both play surprisingly good defense together. Olynyk’s defense might be the most surprising improvement in his game this year.

The forward hasn’t been known as a defensive anchor since being selected by the Celtics, however, he’s been just that this season. The Celtics already sport one of the best defenses in the league, according to Hollinger’s Team efficiency stat, and Olynyk has the best defensive rating on the team (96.0 according to NBA.com/stats). It was so good when the season started, it made some believe that it was just an anomaly and would return to normal as the season progressed. That hasn’t happened, and it looks like Olynyk will continue to be a defensive force for the entire year. While he still frustrates me with his lack of rebounding effort, watching him close out on shooters suggests he can become an outstanding two-way player.

Olynyk has been rated in the top-10 among centers in RPM, with a 4.37 rating, according to ESPN.com. He has a boxscore plus/minus of 2.0, according to Basketball-Reference.com, which is an impressive number for him. However, it isn’t his best rating when looking at that particular stat. His defensive box score was higher last season than this season, but not by much (1.0 vs. 1.4). It shows how much Olynyk has worked on his defensive game to be looked upon as a defensive leader. He’s looking like a permanent fixture with the Celtics, and hopefully, the Celtics will keep him instead of trading him away. Although it won’t be long before his value rises as other teams notice his improvement.

Next: Evan Turner's No. 21 Raised to Rafters

So I’m here to admit that I was wrong in thinking that Kelly Olynyk wouldn’t reach the expectations placed on him by being selected in the lottery back in 2013. It has upset many Celtics fans to watch fellow lottery pick Giannis Antetokounmpo highlights, and see Rudy Gobert become one of the league’s best defenders on the block.

Olynyk has brought a special set of skills that are unique in the NBA. He has proven to me that the Celtics should continue to develop him. He has helped the team in the one aspect that they most desperately needed, which is offense. The team has two of the worst three-point shooters in the league (Marcus Smart and Evan Turner), so having Olynyk can help keep the team above water offensively. If he can become even more consistent, then he truly will be everything that fans have hoped for. I underestimated him, and for once, I’m happy to be wrong.