The first night of this year’s NBA Draft passed on without any team selecting Duke standout Kyle Filipowski. In turn, Boston Celtics All-Star forward Jayson Tatum sent out a warning to those who snubbed him in the first round.
Filipowski began his high school career at Minisink Valley High School in Slate Hill, New York. After his freshman year, he transferred to Fordham Preparatory School in The Bronx, and then to Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Wilbraham, Massachusetts for his sophomore and junior seasons. The forward was a standout player, earning the Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year award for Massachusetts in 2021.
Filipowski’s college career began at Duke University in 2022. As a freshman, he had an impressive season, averaging 15.1 points and 9 rebounds per game, and leading Division I freshmen with 16 double-doubles. He was named the ACC Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on the ACC All-Freshman team.
In his sophomore season, Filipowski continued to excel, earning ACC Player of the Week honors and setting a career-high of 30 points and 13 rebounds in a game against Georgia Tech. However, his season was interrupted by a knee injury sustained in a collision with a fan during a court storming incident. The Duke star was able to return to play in the next game.
After his successful college career, Filipowski declared for the 2024 NBA Draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. However, NBA teams passed on him on the first night of the draft, leading many to wonder why the Duke standout was passed on.
Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum Warns NBA Teams Who Snubbed Kyle Filipowski in 2024 Draft
After the draft’s first night, many were left questioning why Filipowski wasn’t selected. Among those who have shared their thoughts was Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum in a tweet he shared on X.
Lot of teams gone regret passing up on Flip https://t.co/uS1E6caYtF
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) June 27, 2024
Throughout his two years playing for Duke, Filipowski averaged 15.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. He also shot almost 35 percent from deep, 50 percent from the field, and 71 percent from the free throw line.
It remains to be seen whether Filipowski will be selected in the second round of the draft. With his NBA-ready skill set, there’s no reason teams are going to pass up on him again.
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