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The 2024 NBA champion, Jayson Tatum, gave his verdict on Duke's Kyle Filipowski not being picked by any team in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. Tatum took to X, formerly Twitter, to highlight that many teams will regret letting Filipowski go when they had the opportunity to draft him in the first round.
"Lot of teams gone regret passing up on Flip," Tatum posted.
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Filipowski is a talented and versatile 7-foot center and is regarded by many as one of the best offensive players in this draft class. He starred for two seasons at Duke and earned All-ACC and All-American honors during his sophomore season, averaging 16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals with an efficient shooting rate of 50.5% from the field.
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Though Filipowski was anticipated to be picked in the first round, he fell on the draft boards likely due to his lack of athleticism. However, he boasts the size, passing ability, and shooting prowess beyond the arc to make him a valuable asset to any team in the league.
Jayson Tatum's statement also extended to his team, the Boston Celtics, who picked Creighton wing Baylor Scheierman with the 30th pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. The Celtics will not get to pick again until No. 54 overall, so it's unlikely that Filipowksi will team up with Tatum ahead of the next season.
Kyle Filipowski has somber moment after NBA Draft snub
Though Duke's Kyle Filipowski was projected to be a first-round pick by all accounts and mock drafts, he wasn't picked by any team in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday. After the event, Filipowski was seen having a somber moment in the back hallways of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Filipowski's fiancée Caitlin Hutchison comforted him after the disappointing night. The couple shared a hug outside the green room, which was right outside the floor of the draft.
Filipowski will now head to ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in Manhattan on Thursday for Round 2 of the 2024 NBA Draft. Ahead of the second round, Filipowski is considered the top overall player remaining on the board. It would be surprising if the 7-foot center lasted long into the second round, as he is anticipated to be picked in the initial selections on Thursday.
