Celtics' Olynyk: 'I don't think I'm a dirty player'

Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk says he's innocent.

Olynyk is starting to gain a reputation for being a dirty player for his actions throughout the Celtics' last three playoff runs, but the Canadian 7-footer doesn't quite understand why he inherited the dubious label.

"I don't think I'm a dirty player," Olynyk told reporters Saturday. "My teammates don't think I'm a dirty player. It's basketball, it happens. You have to screen, you have to box out, you have to do things."

The Washington Wizards would beg to differ. Kelly Oubre snapped at Olynyk in Game 3, delivering a flying body check as retribution for his many high elbows and moving screens. Olynyk got the last laugh, however, as Oubre's reaction earned him a one-game suspension whereas he only swallowed a fine.

But Olynyk's unsavory reputation extends well beyond this recent skirmish. He was outed as a dirty player when he yanked Kevin Love's arm out of his shoulder socket in the 2015 playoffs. The gruesome play knocked Love out of the Cavaliers' title run, and Olynyk was suspended for one game.

He pulled a similar move in the first round of this season's playoffs, applying an armbar on Chicago Bulls center Robin Lopez. Nobody was hurt, and Olynyk escaped punishment.