During Saturday night’s game, fans witnessed Kelly Olynyk, a former player for the Utah Jazz, make his debut for the Toronto Raptors in his new uniform. Olynyk, who was traded along with Ochai Agbaji at the deadline, is a Canadian native who now has the chance to fulfill his lifelong dream of playing for his home country and the team he grew up watching.
For the 11-year league veteran, the experience was surreal as he took to the court for the first time in a Raptors jersey. Following the team’s 119-95 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Olynyk spoke about his debut and the challenges of playing on short notice.
The moment was truly special, sending shivers down your spine, as the entire country showed their support and love. However, it was difficult to know what to expect, and assimilating was a challenge. The first half was tough, as both ends of the floor were unclear. But in the second half, the team found a rhythm with simple sets that everyone knew, leading to improvement. Despite the loss, Olynyk had a productive performance with 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals in just 22 minutes. Agbaji also contributed with eight points and three rebounds.
