Kelly Olynyk was yet another veteran big man in San Antonio last season. Is there a way for him to separate from the pack next year?
The San Antonio Spurs were home to several veteran big men from around the NBA last season, with Kelly Olynyk being one of many on the roster.
Olynyk is a 13-year journeyman in the league and bounced around two teams, Toronto and New Orleans, before making his way to San Antonio for the latest stop in his career.
Similarly to every other center not named Victor Wembanyama for the Spurs, Olynyk served primarily as a depth piece and used to keep the franchise superstar fresh throughout the regular season gauntlet.
He hit the court for 42 games but came off the bench in all of them. In those outings, Olynyk averaged nearly nine minutes of playing time and around three points in each.
Once the Spurs entered the playoffs, Olynyk made nine more appearances, including four against Oklahoma City in the Western Conference Finals.
As a rotational piece in a crowded group that included Luke Kornet, Bismack Biyombo and eventually Mason Plumlee, who was added via a 10-day contract turned full-season deal, Olynyk stared down the same struggles as the rest of these longtime post presences.
With few minutes to go around and all eyes on the generational phenom that is undoubtedly the cornerstone in San Antonio, it is extremely difficult for any of these other centers to break through and prove they are the definitive second option behind Wemby.
The best comparison for Olynyk on the roster may be another 13-year vet in Plumlee, who became a sort-of tandem with Olynyk behind Wembanyama and also Kornet.
There is no guarantee Plumlee returns next season for San Antonio, which may be the best case scenario for Olynyk if the pair is separated. Not only would there be less faces fighting for the same role, but it would allow him to showcase his extensive history from around the league.
That has been a common theme when dissecting the backend of the Spurs bench, especially at the center position that is so tightly locked up by Wemby. Despite all his revolutionary talent, he lacks the one thing that these veterans have aplenty--experience.
Youth and inexperience arguably cost San Antonio a championship last season. Albeit having players that have simply been in the NBA for an extended period of time does not make the team magically better, but it can ease the growing pains for one the league's strongest units.
With turnover inevitable for the Spurs heading into next season, Olynyk could very well pack up and head to another destination. If he stays along for the ride, it would be in his best interest to lead into a mentorship role and begin to differentiate himself from the plethora of centers in San Antonio.
FINAL GRADE: C-, 2026 OUTLOOK: Veteran Presence, Mentor
