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Canada Basketball: Top five Canadians in the NBA

By Go Paolo

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 30: The jersey of Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves as seen during the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 30, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 30: The jersey of Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves as seen during the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 30, 2018 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Canada Basketball
Canada Basketball – Kelly Olynyk (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. Kelly Olynyk (F/C)

Like Gilgeous-Alexander, not many regarded Kelly Olynyk with much hype and fans probably remember him more for his looks than his play (outside of Boston and Miami fans). But the man from Kamloops, British Columbia is paving a fine career as a role player.

You’re probably thinking, “did this cat just rank a CAREER ROLE PLAYER as the second-best Canadian in the NBA right now?!”

As our criteria suggested, a good NBA player is a player who makes his team better. And Olynyk does this in spades.

On the surface, Olynyk’s numbers of 9.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game are laughable. But if you dig a bit deeper, you’ll realize he is one of the Heat’s “glue guys” and the reason why the team has been playing better lately.

Despite only an 18.9 percent usage rate (tenth on the team), Olynyk is among the Heat’s leaders in win shares per 48 minutes (3rd), box plus-minus (2nd), and PER (4th). He is also tied for the team lead in effective field goal percentage (55.8) and is tied for third in offensive rating (116).

Olynyk isn’t athletic, but his ability to stretch the floor and play sound basketball has been a huge boost for the Heat. He makes his teammates better and will be one of the main reasons the Heat return to the playoffs despite having an over-the-hill superstar and a Motley Crew of tough guys and reclamation projects.

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