‘Surreal’ to be part of Raptors’ 30th anniversary: Olynyk

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As the team gets ready to celebrate its 30th season in the NBA, Raptors centre Kelly Olynyk still recalls his early days growing up in Toronto and becoming a fan of professional basketball.

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“I remember when the Raptors first came here; watching them on TV, listening on the radio, going to games at the SkyDome with binoculars from the very top — all that,” the 33-year-old Toronto native said during his first Raptors media day after the team traded for him in February. “First off, it’s crazy that it’s been 30 years because if I remember the start, it means I’m older than the Raptors, which is crazy, too.

“It’s pretty surreal to think that it’s the 30th anniversary and I’m playing here.”

After stints with Boston, Miami, Houston and Detroit, Olynyk had spent parts of two seasons with the Utah Jazz before he was shipped to his hometown team alongside Ochai Agbaji in exchange for Otto Porter Jr., Kira Lewis Jr. and a 2024 first-round pick.

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Less than a month after acquiring him, Olynyk and the Raptors agreed to a two-year extension, keeping him at home with the club he grew up dreaming of playing for. Both of his parents have a history with the team. Olynyk’s mother Arlene was a scorekeeper for nine years and his father Ken was once an associate coach.

“If you grow up in Toronto … and you dream of playing in the NBA … you dream of playing for the Raptors. That’s what it’s about. That’s your dream,” Olynyk said. “You want to play professionally, but your real dream is to play for the Raptors. To know that’s come true … this really is your childhood dream becoming a reality.”

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To be playing for the Raptors in its 30th year is “monumental,” Olynyk said.

“Looking back at all of the players and coaches and fans that have been here for the past 30 years is really special to be a part of and you don’t take it for granted,” he said.

Olynyk also spoke about the impact Vince Carter made on the franchise ahead of the team retiring his No. 15 jersey on Nov. 2 at Scotiabank Arena.

“The Raptors coming here in ’95 was a huge key to the growth of basketball in this nation,” Olynyk said. “But with Vince getting drafted, he brought so much energy and enthusiasm and excitement to not only the city of Toronto, but the whole country. He was a walking highlight reel and you knew when you came you were going to see something that was meant to be seen, so to speak. I think he made it cool to play basketball. He broke some barriers on what people tried to do with the dunk contest. So I think that you’re seeing a lot of kids — and I was one of them — who (are) trying to emulate what he did on the court. That effect is huge.”

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Carter, who was in Toronto last week when the MLSE Foundation unveiled its newly renovated Vince Carter Court in the city’s west end, expressed his gratitude to the Raptors and hugged team president Masai Ujiri when the news was made official.

“This is what I wanted more than anything because I had six crazy years here,” Carter said.

Carter spent his first seven NBA seasons with the Raptors. His rookie of the year honours in 1999, five all-star game appearances as a Raptor and his statement win during the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest all helped put Toronto on the map.

He helped guide the Raptors to the NBA playoffs and the team’s first Eastern Conference semifinal appearance in 2001. But the club lost in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers at the buzzer when Carter’s game-winning basket failed to go in the net.

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But in 2004, tensions grew between Carter and the fan base and the superstar was dealt to the New Jersey Nets for scraps. He went on to play for the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks.

Olynyk said Monday that the effect Carter had on growing basketball in Canada was real.

“I grew up watching Vince Carter. He got drafted here when I was seven, eight years old, so me and a lot of my friends wanted to play basketball because of the Raptors and Vince,” Olynyk said. “Now you’re seeing people in my age group having kids and they’re putting their kids into basketball. His effect is multi-generational. When we went to his court unveiling, you see these kids who weren’t here when Vince was (playing). But their parents were and because their parents got into basketball, now the kids are. Canada has more resources … now you’re going to see basketball grow exponentially.”

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Olynyk’s fellow teammate, Toronto-born guard RJ Barrett, also praised the team for retiring Carter’s jersey.

“You had to see that coming at some point,” Barrett, 24, said. “A legend for what he’s done for the game just for multiple generations that came after, (it) has been amazing. His impact is huge. Everybody that really plays basketball in this country knows who Vince Carter is. What he’s done for the game is huge and we’re just happy to be able to honour the impact he left here and the amazing athleticism and the dunks and everything else.”

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