NEW YORK – Pick a city, any city, on the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) 30-team circuit, and Kelly Olynyk, a forward for the Utah Jazz, has deep knowledge of the local restaurant scene.
If you are searching for top-tier sushi in Boston, where he spent his first four NBA seasons, he recommends Fuji at Ink Block in the South End. In Charlotte, North Carolina, he will most likely suggest the smoked wings at Rooster’s Wood-Fired Kitchen. Whether you are craving the best Italian in San Francisco or in pursuit of tasty treats in Indianapolis – Olynyk knows a place.
“You have spots in each city that you love and know you can count on,” said the 32-year-old, after eating at thousands of restaurants over the 10 years he has played professionally in five NBA teams.
“But part of having an interest in different cultures and cuisines and restaurants is trying new ones.”
In a league that consists of 28 cities, roughly 450 players and 1,230 regular-season games each year, NBA business travel is frequent and first class.
Teams fly private and stay in five-star hotel chains like the Four Seasons and the Ritz-Carlton. But they also eat, a lot, and by embracing local culture and institutions with their deep pockets, they have become very credible restaurant authorities.
NBA players are larger-than-normal humans with equally large salaries, a combination that results in voracious appetites and often in reservations at the country’s most renowned restaurants.
“Sometimes, if we’re only in a city one night, I’ll go to two dinners,” admitted Olynyk.
The 2023-24 NBA season tipped off on Oct 24, and in a typical season, each team play 41 games on the road, visiting each opposing market (that includes 27 American cities and Toronto) at least once.
There are additional pre-season and play-off games to consider. The Golden State Warriors, for example, travelled to Los Angeles – home of the Lakers and Clippers – seven times last season. That means many meals and time to bond.
“We travel so much around the country that going out to restaurants has always been the greatest way to bring everyone together,” said Karl-Anthony Towns, a three-time NBA All-Star centre with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Regardless of which teammates or coaches they choose to dine with, players take notice of the food, service and setting: Word-of-mouth recommendations between players are a major part of NBA restaurant culture.
“We’re a brotherhood, so you’re going to definitely have some honest reviews from your 449 brothers,” said Towns, 27.
Rudy Gobert, a Timberwolves teammate, frequently gives Towns tips on lesser-known eateries with little fanfare on Yelp, Tripadvisor or other recommendation websites.
Olynyk enjoys introducing his younger teammates to top restaurants in different cities (and picking up the bill), much as his former teammate Rajon Rondo did for him.
“It’s kind of like a rite of passage,” said Olynyk, a native of Toronto.
Kevin Love, a veteran forward for the Miami Heat, grew up in Portland, Oregon, a city known for its creative dining scene. As his basketball career has advanced, his food knowledge has improved and his network of fellow food lovers has expanded.
“Having a love for food, as well as wine, has brought me into a number of circles where I’ve made really good friends with restaurateurs, chefs and people who have similar interests,” said Love, 35, who is a partner (along with former teammate Channing Frye) in Chosen Family Wines, a wine brand based out of Willamette Valley, Oregon.
“That’s a fun world to be in.”
NYTIMES
