Toronto Raptors Barrett and Olynyk are on a quest for Olympic Gold

RJ Barrett and Kelly Olynyk now play at home in the NBA, but they will continue to represent as Canada’s star-studded National team heads to the Paris Olympics

Toronto Raptors teammates RJ Barrett and Kelly Olynyk are set to represent the North — both the Toronto Raptors and Team Canada Basketball — at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.

Fresh off a bronze in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Head Coach Jordi Fernandez and Canada’s men’s basketball team will build on their success and are expected to make a splash in Paris.

Olynyk and Barrett aim to bring home an Olympic medal to add to the World Championship bronze they helped win last year, while also building a bond on and off the court. This tournament offers a glimpse into what Raptors fans might see from this duo next season.

Throughout the competition, we’ll be watching to see how they complement each other on and off the court, but also how they step into their individual roles as well.

Canada’s Epic Olympic Roster

Canada Basketball presented an impressive 20-man Olympic tryout roster. While they brought these athletes on board for training camp, ultimately they trimmed down the roster to 12 players as they head to Europe to continue training.

Still, this may be the most talented roster Canada has ever presented in men’s basketball. The program makes it’s long-awaited return to the Olympics after over two decades, and these young stars have something to prove.

There are a few obvious missing players in this final roster. Team Canada be without 2024 9th overall draft pick Zach Edey as he is focusing on preparing for his rookie season with the Memphis Grizzlies. He is currently participating in Summer League with his new team, and will hopefully make a return to the Canadian roster in the future.

Andrew Wiggins will also be missing from Olympic play. In a mutual agreement with his team, the Golden State Warriors, he will be making his health his number one priority. While disappointing to see these two sit out, Canada surely doesn’t have a depth problem when it comes to NBA talent.

RJ Barrett’s increased efficiency in 2023-24 season will be key

Besides their roles on Canada’s Olympic team, Barrett and Olynyk are key members of the revamped Toronto Raptors, following mid-season acquisitions that brought them back home to Canada. Olynyk was traded in from the Utah Jazz, while Barrett was a part of the New York Knicks deal that sent O.G. Anunoby to New York.

While they surely have big roles on the Raptors’ Scottie-Barnes focused roster, their contributions to the national team differ slightly to what they do in the NBA.

Given the Canadian’s lineup is so similar to last year’s World Championship team, it will be interesting to see if the Raptors’ duo secure spots in Canada’s starting lineup throughout the tournament. Barrett and Olynyk showcased versatility in winning basketball last summer, and it seems they will have the opportunity to do so again.

Plus, Barrett had maybe his best stint of basketball since being drafted into the NBA after he was traded to Toronto in January, so don’t be surprised if he continues that for Canada.

Barrett showcased his versatility, and defensive abilities throughout the entirety of the FIBA World Championships last year. His play was on point throughout the tournament, especially in a game against Lebanon where he received Player of the Game honours. Barrett made three shots from beyond the arc while leading the way offensively in a blow out win for Canada in that game.

He was an efficient scorer through Canada’s World Cup run last summer shooting 52% from the field and 37% from deep. Numbers that are similar to his efficiency after being traded to the Raptors last season, when he shot 55.3% from the field and 39.2% from three point range.

Barrett will also excel playing alongside OKC Thunder guard and MVP candidate, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA and Barrett have the ability to play quick transition offence, as we have seen throughout their NBA careers. Both players ranked in the top 10 in transition points in the NBA last season.

Playing alongside fast-paced, ball dominant players like SGA and Jamal Murray will help Barrett when it comes to playing with Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley this upcoming NBA season. This does not mean that Scottie and IQ are identical players to SGA and Murray, but Barrett can continue to get more familiar with the idea of playing with two players who are used to having the ball in their hands. This tournament will certainly enhance RJ’s game in preparation for October basketball.

Captain Canada returns again

Kelly Olynyk has been a mainstay in this Canadian National program for a long time, and his presence and leadership will be a huge factor in their success in Paris.

Last summer at the World Cup, Olynyk often started games alongside Dallas Mavericks centre Dwight Powell, allowing him to play offensively on the perimeter and support against opposing bigs and centres. Olynyk shot 35% on 3.5 attempts from deep in that tournament. His pairing with another big, like Jakob Poeltl in Toronto, will be intriguing — and this tournament will provide Raptors fans a glimpse of how Kelly plays alongside another big man.

Yet, Olynyk’s calm presence and voice is what brings him to the next level in international play. He has a way of picking up this team and bringing them back to focus in times where they are struggling to figure it out. Some players thrive under the international spotlight, and Kelly Olynyk is one of them.

The chemistry Barrett and Olynyk continue to develop in Paris will benefit the Raptors this NBA season as well. The pair started every game but one together at the World Cup last summer, but the Canadian duo have only played 16 games together with the Toronto Raptors. These Olympic Games will certainly solidify their chemistry in anticipation of the NBA season.

The journey to gold began with last week’s scrimmage in Las Vegas against Team USA. Canada and the USA last met in the World Cup Bronze Medal Game, which Canada won to secure the medal. However, this year’s USA team, led by Head Coach Steve Kerr, boasts “12 future Hall of Famers” and is favoured to win gold at -380, with Canada second at +900 according to the oddsmakers.

While a scrimmage doesn’t really matter in the long run, Canada did fall to Team USA in Vegas — but only by a short margin. Regardless, it’s sure to be a battle any time these two talented teams face off in international tournaments.

As Toronto Raptors and Team Canada fans alike eagerly anticipate these international games, this summer will serve as a pivotal moment for both players to solidify their roles and increase their chemistry. As RJ Barrett and Kelly Olynyk embark on their Olympic journey in Paris, they’ll not only be key factors in Canada’s hunt for a medal, but will also provide a glimpse of what lies ahead on the court for the Toronto Raptors this upcoming season.