Kyle Filipowski
Kyle Filipowski (born November 7, 2003) is an American professional basketball player who plays as a center for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1] Standing at 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 m) and weighing 250 pounds (113 kg), Filipowski is known for his versatility as a big man, contributing in scoring, rebounding, and playmaking.[2] A consensus five-star recruit ranked among the top players in the class of 2022, he played two seasons of college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils, where he earned national freshman honors and All-ACC recognition before declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft.[3] Filipowski was born in Middletown, New York, to parents David and Rebecca Filipowski, and has a twin brother, Matt, who played college basketball for Harvard.[4] Growing up in Westtown, New York, he attended Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Massachusetts for high school, where he developed into a dominant force as a center and power forward.[3] During his senior year, Filipowski averaged 20.5 points, 16.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, helping lead his team to a 25-3 record and earning him national acclaim as the No. 2 recruit in the East Region by ESPN.[5] In his freshman season at Duke during 2022-23, Filipowski burst onto the scene, starting all 36 games and leading the Blue Devils in scoring with 15.1 points per game while grabbing 9.0 rebounds per game and shooting 50.5% from the field overall.[6] His performance earned him the ACC Rookie of the Year award (near-unanimous selection), the Kyle Macy National Freshman of the Year honor, and ACC Tournament MVP after averaging 21.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in the tournament.[7] As a sophomore in 2023-24, he improved to 16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game across another 36 starts, earning All-ACC First Team honors, second-team All-America recognition from the Associated Press and USBWA, and a spot on the Wooden Award ballot.[6][8] He also received the Caulton Tudor Award for his cooperation with the media.[9] Filipowski declared for the NBA Draft following his sophomore year and was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 32nd overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.[2] In his rookie Summer League in 2024, he showed promise, but it was in the 2025 NBA Summer League where he excelled, averaging a league-leading 29.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists over three games to earn MVP honors as the first Jazz player to win the award.[10] Entering the 2025-26 NBA season, Filipowski has appeared in early games for the Jazz, averaging 7.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 39.7% from the field in limited minutes as of November 15, 2025.[2]Early life and education
Family background
Kyle Filipowski was born on November 7, 2003, in Middletown, New York.[11][12] His parents, David Filipowski and Rebecca Filipowski (née Hagerdon), met while attending high school in Orange County, New York, and both hold American nationality.[11][13] The family has deep roots in sports, with David playing college basketball at Slippery Rock University from 1979 to 1981 and Rebecca excelling at Long Beach State, where she earned All-American honors from Parade Magazine in 1982.[14][15] Filipowski grew up with two older brothers, Daniel and Taylor, both involved in athletics, as well as a twin brother, Matthew, with whom he shared early basketball experiences.[11][14] The family's athletic heritage provided strong encouragement for his initial exposure to basketball during childhood in Middletown.[12]High school career
Filipowski began his high school basketball career as a freshman at Minisink Valley High School in Slate Hill, New York.[16] After his freshman year, he transferred to Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx to pursue better competitive opportunities, supported by his family.[17] Following his sophomore season, Filipowski reclassified from the class of 2023 to 2022 and transferred to Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, where he spent his final two years of high school alongside his twin brother Matt.[18] This move made him a fifth-year senior, rendering him ineligible to participate in certain all-star events despite earning selections.[16] At Wilbraham & Monson, Filipowski emerged as a dominant force. As a junior in the 2020–21 season, he averaged 21.0 points and 13.2 rebounds per game, leading the Titans to an undefeated 5–0 record and earning the Gatorade Massachusetts Boys Basketball Player of the Year award.[19] During his senior year in 2021–22, he continued his high-level production, securing McDonald's All-American honors and a spot on the 2022 Naismith National High School Boys Basketball All-America first team, though he could not play in the McDonald's game due to his reclassification status.[16][20] Filipowski also represented elite competition on the international stage. In 2021, he helped Team USA win gold at the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary, scoring a game-high nine points in the final against Estonia.[21] The following year, he competed for the USA Basketball team at the 2022 Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon, contributing to a 102–80 victory over the World Select team.[22]College career
Freshman season (2022–2023)
Filipowski, rated as a five-star recruit and the No. 20 overall prospect in the class of 2022 by ESPN, committed to Duke University on July 29, 2021, becoming the program's first signee under new head coach Jon Scheyer.[23] His high school pedigree at Wilbraham & Monson Academy positioned him for an immediate impact in the Atlantic Coast Conference.[24] During the 2022–23 season, Filipowski started all 36 games for the Blue Devils, emerging as a key frontcourt presence and averaging 15.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 44.1% from the field.[6] He led Duke in both scoring and rebounding, recording 16 double-doubles, the most among all Division I freshmen. His versatility as a 7-foot center, including effective play in pick-and-roll situations and perimeter shooting (28.2% from three-point range), helped anchor the team's interior defense and transition offense. Filipowski earned Second-Team All-ACC honors, a spot on the ACC All-Freshman Team, and was named ACC Rookie of the Year after receiving 68 of 75 possible votes in the latter category.[25] He also earned ACC Tournament MVP honors, the Kyle Macy National Freshman of the Year, and honorable mention All-America recognition.[4] One of his standout performances came on January 11, 2023, when he tallied a then-career-high 28 points and 15 rebounds in an 84–79 victory over Pittsburgh, becoming just the third Duke freshman to achieve at least 28 points and 15 rebounds in a game.[26] These contributions were pivotal in Duke's 27–9 overall record and ACC Tournament championship, where Filipowski averaged 19.7 points and 7.0 rebounds across three games. In the 2023 NCAA Tournament, Duke, seeded No. 5 in the East Region, advanced past No. 12 Oral Roberts (74–51) before falling to No. 4 Tennessee (65–52) in the second round.[27] Filipowski contributed 6 points and 9 rebounds in the first-round win but struggled with foul trouble against Tennessee's physical frontcourt.[28]Sophomore season (2023–2024)
In his sophomore season at Duke in 2023–2024, Kyle Filipowski started all 36 games, showcasing significant growth as a versatile big man by averaging 16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 50.5% from the field.[6] Building on his freshman foundation, he displayed greater offensive versatility, including improved playmaking and perimeter shooting at 34.8% from three-point range.[6] Filipowski earned major accolades for his performance, including Consensus Second-Team All-American honors, as well as First-Team All-ACC selection.[29] Standout games highlighted his impact, such as a career-high 30 points and 13 rebounds in an 84–79 victory over Georgia Tech on January 13, where he also added four assists and two blocks.[30] Another key performance came against Hofstra on December 12, with 28 points, 12 rebounds, and a career-best eight assists in an 89–68 win, falling just short of a triple-double.[31] Duke, bolstered by Filipowski's contributions, finished the regular season 25–6 and earned the No. 1 seed in the East Region of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, defeating Houston 54–51 in a defensive battle where Filipowski recorded 16 points and nine rebounds, before falling to NC State.[32] Following the season, Filipowski declared for the 2024 NBA draft on April 12, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.[33]Professional career
2024 NBA draft
Filipowski was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 32nd overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft on June 27, 2024.[34] Entering the draft, he was projected as a lottery or early first-round selection based on his versatile skill set as a 6-foot-11 forward-center, but his stock declined amid concerns over a knee injury he suffered in February 2024 during a court-storming incident at Wake Forest and unverified off-court rumors regarding his family relationships and personal life.[35][36] His college achievements, such as earning first-team All-ACC honors in his sophomore year, underscored his potential as a skilled big man with shooting range and playmaking ability.[37] On August 12, 2024, Filipowski signed a four-year, $12 million rookie scale contract with the Jazz, the maximum allowable for a second-round pick, which included full guarantees and team options for the final two seasons.[38][39] Filipowski participated in the 2024 NBA Summer League, appearing in eight games across the Salt Lake City and Las Vegas events, where he averaged 11.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steals in 22.2 minutes per game while shooting 41% from the field and 27% from three-point range.[40] In the preseason, he played in all five Jazz games, logging limited minutes off the bench and contributing modestly with averages of 4.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in 13.2 minutes per outing, demonstrating flashes of his passing and defensive mobility as he adjusted to professional play.[41] These exhibitions positioned him as a developmental prospect heading into his rookie season, with the Jazz viewing him as a versatile frontcourt addition behind established bigs like Walker Kessler.[42]Rookie season (2024–2025)
Filipowski entered the 2024–25 NBA season as a second-round pick of the Utah Jazz, transitioning from college basketball to a professional bench role with initially limited opportunities. Early in the campaign, he averaged under 10 minutes per game during the first half of the season, often splitting time between the NBA roster and the G League's Salt Lake City Stars to develop his skills, where he averaged 18.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 15 games.[43][44][45] As injuries and rotations shifted, Filipowski's minutes increased significantly in the second half, showcasing his versatility as a forward-center. Over the final 23 games from March to April 2025, he averaged 14.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, emerging as a key energy player off the bench with improved defensive presence and pick-and-roll execution.[46][47] For the full season, Filipowski appeared in 72 games, averaging 9.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting efficiently inside the arc.[48] His late-season surge provided frontcourt depth for the rebuilding Jazz.[49][47] Postseason, Filipowski excelled in the 2025 NBA Summer League, earning MVP honors after averaging 29.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game across three games in Las Vegas, where he shot over 56% from the field and demonstrated elite scoring versatility.[50][51] This performance solidified his potential as a rising talent for the Jazz entering his second year.[52]2025–2026 season
Entering his second NBA season with the Utah Jazz, Kyle Filipowski was expected to take on an increased role following a strong finish to his rookie year, where he averaged 12.5 points and 7.2 rebounds over the final 15 games of 2024–2025.[53] As a versatile 6-foot-11 center-forward, Filipowski was projected to contribute more as a stretch big in the Jazz's rebuilding efforts, emphasizing spacing and playmaking alongside young talents like Lauri Markkanen.[54] However, through the early games, he has primarily come off the bench, logging 19.2 minutes per game while adapting to the professional level.[53] As of November 8, 2025, after nine games in the 2025–2026 season, Filipowski is averaging 6.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, shooting 37.3 percent from the field.[53] In his initial four outings through October 29, he averaged 7.5 points and 5.0 rebounds, showing flashes of efficiency with multiple multi-assist performances.[53] Notable early contributions include a season-high 13 points and 8 rebounds against the Boston Celtics on November 3, and a double-double with 9 points and 10 rebounds versus the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 7.[53] A quieter showing came in a 4-point, 1-rebound effort off the bench during a 126-103 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on November 2.[2] The Jazz, holding a 3-6 record and 13th place in the Western Conference amid their ongoing rebuild, have integrated Filipowski into a rotation that prioritizes development for its young core.[1] No significant injuries have sidelined him since a minor sciatic nerve issue in preseason, allowing consistent minutes as he builds chemistry in Utah's frontcourt.[55]Career statistics
College
Filipowski played two seasons for the Duke Blue Devils, appearing in 72 games and accumulating 1,134 points, 621 rebounds, and 156 assists over his college career.[6] His per-game averages across both seasons were 15.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and a 47.3% field goal percentage.[6]| Season | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 (Freshman) | 36 | 29.1 | 15.1 | 9.0 | 1.6 | .441 | .282 | .765 |
| 2023–24 (Sophomore) | 36 | 30.4 | 16.4 | 8.3 | 2.8 | .505 | .348 | .671 |
| Career | 72 | 29.7 | 15.8 | 8.6 | 2.2 | .473 | .316 | .718 |
NBA
Kyle Filipowski's NBA career through the 2025–26 season consists of 84 regular-season games with the Utah Jazz, during which he accumulated 783 points, 504 rebounds, and 169 assists.[1] His per-game averages stand at 9.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 47.5% field goal shooting, reflecting his role as a versatile big man adjusting to professional play.[56]2024–25 Season (Rookie Year)
In his rookie season, Filipowski appeared in 72 games, starting 27, and averaged 9.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field.[56] He showed improved production in his starts, posting 14.0 points and 8.6 rebounds per game across those 27 outings.[57]| Category | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 72 | 21.1 | 9.6 | 6.1 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 50.2 | 35.0 | 65.0 |