2024 NBA Draft: How Kyle Filipowski Translates To The NBA
Kyle Filipowski was a projected first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and was considered one of the most skilled bigs in the class. He elected to return to Duke for his sophomore campaign and it has paid off a ton to this point. Filipowski has improved in nearly every statistical category and has proven he can be a major cog and offensive hub for an NBA team due to what he brings to the table. Let’s dive into how his game translates to the NBA and who he compares the most to.
At 7-feet tall Filipowski plays with a ton of physicality, finesse and supreme talent. He has the ability to score in the low post with his back to the basket as he has a variety of different moves he can go to in the low post. You can bet on the talented sophomore taking advantage of mismatches when smaller defenders are matched onto him. The sophomore Duke product is nearly averaging 20 points per game on solid efficiency.
The big swing skill outside of some defensive miscues is the outside shooting. Last season Filipowski shot below 30% from three and with his archetype he needs to shoot better than that in the NBA to see a ton of success and consistent minutes at the next level. So far this season he’s hovering around the 32% mark from behind the arc and if he’s able to get that to 35% by the end of the season then there’s no reason he isn’t a lottery pick in June. The 3-point jumper is the biggest concern for Filipwoski on the offensive end and if he’s able to turn that into a strength then he has some star potential on the offensive end.
An underrated skill that doesn’t get talked about enough for Filipowski is his passing ability at the big man position. There’s an argument to be made that he is the best passing big man in this year’s draft. He operates extremely well out of the short roll as he’s a great decision-maker due to his ability to make the right reads in a timely manner. He’s currently averaging three assists per game which is quite impressive considering how many talented guards he’s playing next to on this Duke roster. The passing ability will certainly translate at the next level.
The big question is, what team does he fit on the best at the next level in his draft range? A team that makes a ton of sense for Filipowski is the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder has a superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with another up and coming star rookie in Chet Holmgren. Holmgren has been playing a lot of center minutes this season despite his extremely thin frame so having Filipowski next to him makes a ton of sense.
The Duke product brings rebounding, toughness, skill and offensive versatility on an already talented OKC roster. Holmgren brings elite defense, rim protection and offensive versatility which would really fit well with Filipowski as they fill each other's weaknesses and could play off of each other quite well. The translation to the NBA is a tad bit concerning for the sophomore but what are some comparisons for Filipowski to help give an idea of what he can become in the NBA?
Kelly Olynyk is a pretty solid comparison as far as archetype and projected role goes. Olynyk is a skilled offensive big man with size that can stretch the floor, finish around the rim and keep the offense flowing at all times despite playing either big man position. If Filipowski can reach what Olynyk is or even surpass him then that’s a big win for whatever team drafts him in the first round.
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