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Duke heart Kyle Filipowski was arguably probably the most shocking identify not referred to as within the first spherical of the 2024 NBA draft, and Jayson Tatum thinks groups will stay to remorse that call.
Filipowski starred for 2 seasons at Duke, incomes All-ACC and All-American honors throughout his sophomore season. Regardless of his 6’11” dimension, sturdy passing skill and taking pictures skill past the arc, Filipowski fell on draft boards largely as a result of his lack of athleticism.
Tatum is together with his personal group amongst those that will remorse passing on Filipowski, because the Celtics chosen Creighton guard Baylor Scheierman with the ultimate choose in Spherical 1. Boston doesn’t choose once more till No. 54 general, so it is unlikely Filipowski and Tatum might be teammates subsequent season.
Whereas Filipowski’s below-average athleticism may justify his fall in most drafts, it is a bit complicated in a category thought-about one of many weakest of the twenty first century. A number of gamers whose resumes pale compared to Filipowski’s went earlier than him Wednesday evening, with even some contending groups selecting to roll the cube on tasks reasonably than take a comparatively protected choice.
Even when Filipowski by no means turns right into a starter, his skill to stretch the ground at his dimension and his IQ enjoying inside a system stand out. He can match on almost any NBA roster and discover enjoying time as a seventh or eighth man, which ought to be thought-about a win on this class.
It will be a shock if Filipowski lasted very lengthy into Spherical 2. The Toronto Raptors maintain the No. 31 general choose and will take Filipowski themselves or negotiate a commerce with a group that wishes to maneuver up.
It is clear NBA entrance places of work grade Filipowski decrease than most followers—and clearly some gamers—however he has an excessive amount of offensive expertise to fall far more. B/R’s Jonathan Wasserman has Filipowski going No. 34 general to the Portland Path Blazers. He’s thought-about the highest general participant remaining on the board.