Raptors’ star Olynyk talks Olympics, wine, relationship with father, European vacation, potential return of Klynyk

MH: You dropped in on the TRU WolfPack alumni game last night. How did that go?
KO: It was just fun coming back and getting a little bit of a run and seeing some guys. I played with a lot of those guys, especially the alumni. The current team, not as much. Just have some fun and enjoy being back home.

MH: I hear you’re a big fantasy football guy. You might be in about eight leagues. What do you like about that?
KO: Big fantasy football guy. I love it. For me, it’s just a way to keep connected with people. Every stop I’ve had, whether it’s college or high school, Boston, Miami, wherever I’ve been, I’ve met people and joined a league and that’s kind of my way to stay connected with those people throughout the years and especially throughout the football season. It’s fun. It’s a competitive thing I really enjoy.

MH: Are you a wine guy now?
KO: Yeah, definitely. I got into wine three or four years ago. Actually, Jimmy Butler got me into wine, which is another story. I didn’t really like wine at all. Jimmy was like, ‘Oh, you just haven’t had the right wines.’ I was like, ‘Okay,’ so we went out for dinner. He introduced me to some and I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I do like wine.’ My wife likes wine. It’s fun going to wineries. Wine is kind of like a hobby. You can collect them, enjoy them and share them with other people. So, I like that whole atmosphere — collecting, holding, growing and in the end you can give those experiences to people who may not otherwise have had them.

MH: Would you like to have your own?
KO: My own winery? I don’t know about that. Maybe post-career. For now, I’m just enjoying the product.

MH: How was the trip to Ireland this past summer?
KO: Post-Olympics, we took a couple weeks and went to a few different places. We went to Spain, went on some wine tours in France and then went up to Switzerland, which was beautiful, and then to Ireland. Ireland was really cool. The Guinness factory was really cool, some whisky distilleries, Jamieson — and randomly, Ireland has an amazing zoo so we went to the zoo and enjoyed some time with some friends.

MH: What do you enjoy about these basketball camps?
KO: For me, it’s always been a huge thing to give back to the city that gave you so much opportunity, support and love. To give that back to these kids, I feel it’s not a duty, but something I enjoy a lot and love to do, and pass on that knowledge and love for the game.

In recent years, I haven’t been able to run my clinic, the Olynyk Klynyk. I did it for seven, eight years strong, then COVID hit and put a wrench in things and then the World Cup and the Olympics and we’ve just been so busy. To be able to come back even for a couple hours, get kids excited and passionate about the game and looking forward to basketball is something I like to do and hopefully that’s what this can accomplish.

MH: Down the road, any chance the Klynyk makes a comeback?
KO: Maybe. This next summer would probably be the summer to do it. It’s post-Olympics. We won’t have as much Canada Basketball stuff, should have a little more time and don’t have any weddings getting in the way. So, if there is one to do it, it’s probably this next summer.

MH: You worked for a long time to get to the Olympics. How did the experience compare to expectations?
KO: A dream became reality, basically. You fight your whole life for those moments, grinding and grinding every summer trying to qualify and coming up just short probably like three Olympics in a row. It’s tough. The blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice all accumulates into that one moment. It was cool. It was really, really cool to step on that floor.

For the first few games, we were a little north of Paris in Lille and it was like 28,000 people, just a huge venue. Great atmosphere. High intensity. Up there, it was just basketball. It felt like a glorified basketball tournament. Once you got into the heart of Paris, into the real Olympic Village and see all the athletes walking around and you go to the events, the whole energy changed. I went to the 100-metre final and hammer throw, where Ethan (Katzberg) won the gold. I watched that in person. It was amazing. Beach volleyball. Three-on-three basketball. You just feel the energy and the atmosphere of the city and the magnitude of those moments. All the emotion, passion and love for the sport and how much dedication and sacrifice these people have put in that matches and rivals what you’ve done. To share that symbiotically is kind of cool. Another patch on the resume.

MH: How tough was it to make the early exit in the quarter-final?
KO: It’s tough. We didn’t finish how we wanted, but the experience was top notch. It was a tough game. We’d beaten France three times in the past two years. You play them on their home soil in the Olympics, they’re juiced up and the fans are going nuts. It’s one game. It’s basically March Madness once you get to that point. Anything can happen. Unfortunately, the ball didn’t roll our way, but the experience was top notch.

MH: Your dad (Ken Olynyk) is joining the Canada West Hall of Fame. What does that mean to you and your family?
KO: He’s done a phenomenal job everywhere he’s gone. We don’t even know half the stuff he does as his kids and his family because he’s on so many boards and committees and has so much influence and has changed a lot of things in the world of sport, especially over here. Proud moment, for sure. When other people talk about it, you realize just the impact he’s had. The epitome of a role model for me.

MH: He’s your dad, obviously, but also a confidante, a manager, at times an advisor, a basketball coach. How close are you with him?
KO: All of the above, for sure. I talk to him pretty much every day. A lot of basketball stuff, a lot of life stuff. As you get older, there is more to learn on a different spectrum, about family and all that kind of stuff. He’s been huge in my development in my career basketball-wise, but also in becoming a man.

MH: What’s it been like to come to Canada to play for the Raptors?
KO: You don’t even have words for what it’s been like. Parallel to the Olympics, your dreams become a reality. Growing up and being born in Toronto and living there until basically high school, I grew up a Raptors’ fan. I was in the backyard shooting hoops pretending I was a Raptor my whole life. This is a Raptors’ country from coast to coast. To go back and put on that jersey and play for those fans, it really is a full-circle moment.

MH: You signed another big contract. Any big purchases?
KO: The last big-ticket thing was probably our wedding. We definitely splurged on our wedding. We had a good time with a lot of friends, a lot of family. That was two years ago. Now it’s just trying to find a house. We’re renting this year [in Toronto] and then we’ll see what happens.

by Marty Hastings

Raptors’ star Olynyk talks Olympics, wine, relationship with father, European vacation, potential return of Klynyk

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