“Easily steal of the draft”: College hoops fans react to Duke’s Kyle Filipowski being drafted in second round of the 2024 NBA draft
Despite being invited to the green room, Kyle Filipowski had to wait another day to hear his name being called in the 2024 NBA draft. Filipowski was one of the best prospects remaining on day 2, coming out of college with averages of 16.4 points and 8.3 rebounds.
With that, the Utah Jazz wasted no time in selecting the Duke Blue Devils' big man with the second pick of the day, 32nd overall.
The move has garnered massive appreciation from NBA fans as they swarm in to commend Utah's masterful pick:
"Danny Ainge masterclass," a fan tipped their hat to the CEO of the franchise.
"Easily steal of the draft," another fan quipped.
"The most Utah pick ever," another fan wrote.
Meanwhile, the Jazz fans united in light of the promise the team holds ahead of the 2024-24 NBA season:
"Utah’s cooking man… Cody, Collier AND FLIP???," a fan highlighted Utah's meticulous picks from the recent draft.
"Twin towers with Kessler," another fan quipped.
"Filipowski, Lauri & Kessler?," a follower highlighted at the frontcourt options.
What does Kyle Filipowski bring to the Utah Jazz?
Kyle Filipowski is a 7-foot big man who can tread the court like a point guard. He is quick on his feet, active with his hands and has a variety of moves in his arsenal to put the ball in the basket.
Filipowski can attack the basket by cruising past a defender, is patient when driving on off-ball cuts and can instantly have an impact for the Jazz. Even though he will benefit from mismatches regularly with his post moves, he is also a passing threat that will disrupt defenses as soon as he gets into the paint.
These attributes alone make Filipowski a standout in Jazz’s lineup. However, the only downside of Filipowski’s game is his defense. While he can make it tough for the offense, he does not elevate to swat shots like other players of his size.
Nevertheless, Jazz has apt developmental programs for big men due to their history of harboring impactful centers like Rudy Gobert and Lauri Markkanen, which could help in Kyle Filipowski’s growth.