NBA Draft Scouting Report: Duke’s Kyle Filipowski
Kyle Filipowski
Forward | Duke
Height: 6’11” | Weight: 220 lbs
2024 Draft Age: 20.62
Rob Kinnan / USA TODAY Sports
Prospect Profile
One of the highest rated high school players in his class, Filipowski is a versatile forward that should fit perfectly in the modern NBA. He’s got the perfect combination of size and skill, being physical enough to dominate in the paint, but also having upside as a 3-point shooter. His second season at Duke could earn him a spot in the lottery of the 2024 NBA Draft, although he would have certainly gotten consideration in the first round following his freshman season.
The 6-foot-11 big is also a fantastic passer and facilitator for his size. Anytime the ball is in his hands, there’s a chance something special happens. In terms of skill, Filipowski is one of the best in his class.
Many teams are building in a way that allows whoever rebounds the ball to bring it up the floor. Filipowski absolutely fits that mold at the next level.
With that in mind, the trade off for a guy of his build is generally a lack of quickness. Filipowski has a physical frame that's legitimately ready for the NBA today, but he lacks explosiveness. This could end up holding him back on the defensive end when guarding players on the perimeter. If he's going to be a stretch four in the league, he'll have to guard quick athletes that can get to the rack with ease. As of today, he doesn't have the lateral quickness to guard wings.
The swing skill for Filipowski is the 3-point shooting, which looked great early in the season but continuously fell off. He finished his freshman campaign shooting just over 28% from beyond the arc. However, his mechanics look great for a big and we're still optimistic that he could be a quality floor spacer moving forward.
In general, it was interesting to see Filipowski play as a freshman at Duke with a huge increase in level of competition. Like many top high school prospects of his size, until you get into the college and NBA game you're often the biggest guy on the court. Moving forward, that won't always be the case. He showed some really great flashes, but wasn't able to flourish in a way that put him in the lottery conversation.
Outside of the tools the Duke prospect has, his competitiveness also gives him a unique edge. Filipowski is a guy that gives maximum effort on every single play and is willing to do the small things that help teams win. He’s also a natural leader which should prove valuable this upcoming season.
Filipowski was able to play in the frontcourt alongside another first-round talent this season in Dereck Lively. Seeing him be effective next to another big was a great data point for NBA teams, especially since Filipowski could play either frontcourt position at the next level.
Highlights
Draft Projection
Late Lottery Pick in 2024 NBA Draft.
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