Thunder Interior Depth Could Use Duke’s Kyle Filipowski

The leading scorer on one of the biggest blue bloods in college basketball could help Oklahoma City’s need for more bigs.

Kyle Filipowski is leading Duke this season and helping push them through uncharted territory of a new head coach. Filipowski, a freshman big from Westtown, New York, is averaging a team-high 15.1 points per game this season for the Blue Devils.

He has been a force inside both scoring and grabbing rebounds, which he averages nine per game. The Thunder could continue to bolster their interior depth alongside Chet Holmgren and others over the off-season, and Filipowski could fit into the rotation well.

While he’s not a great shooter outside of the paint, his interior presence makes him a late lottery projected selection. He could raise his draft stock more in March with Duke hoping to make a deep run. Though he scored just six points in Duke’s blowout Round of 64 win, he did average nearly 20 in the ACC Tournament.

The Thunder have been limited with center depth throughout the season, but are getting reinforcements with Holmgren next season and adding more depth in the draft could be vital to the success of the rotation.

He will get another chance to improve and impress with a game against Tennessee on Saturday in the Round of 32. Filipowski continues to prove himself as a leader for the Blue Devils as a young freshman.

Filipowski is a seven footer who can protect the paint and has more chances to up his draft stock, though he is currently projected right around OKC’s projected pick. The Thunder could find themselves at the end of the lottery with plenty of prospects to take, but Filipowski could lead the charge with his size and ability around the rim.

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