Duke Basketball: 3 reasons Kyle Filipowski made right decision to return for 2023-24
Improved Draft Status
Although returning to Duke for his sophomore year was a wise move for Kyle Filipowski, it is hard to imagine a scenario in which he doesn’t enter the NBA draft next season. That being said, he will most certainly be a lottery pick and has the potential to be among the early 2025 Rookie of the Year candidates.
Filipowski’s return is reminiscent of Blake Griffin’s decision back in 2008. After a stellar freshman season for the Oklahoma Sooners, Griffin was expected to be a lottery pick in that year’s NBA draft. However, Griffin decided that the chance to compete for a National Championship was too good to pass up and he decided to stay in school for one more year. As a result, Griffin had an incredible sophomore season that led to him being named National Player of the Year and resulted in his being selected first overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2009 NBA draft.
If he’d chosen to enter the draft this year, Filipowski would almost certainly be taken in the first round. However, this year’s pool of eligible players in loaded, and the most sought-after seven-footer is certainly Victor Wembanyama of the Metropolitans 92, a professional team in France. Staying in school may have been enticing to Filipowski not only because of Duke’s potential for a great season, but for the positive impact it could have for his draft position. In 2024, Filipowski will not only be a first-round pick, but he is also a shoo-in for the lottery.
Kyle Filipowski had an excellent freshman season that ended in disappointment during the second round of the NCAA Tournament. However, he is poised to have a great sophomore campaign filled with wins for his team to go along with individual accolades. If all goes as planned, he could leave the Blue Devils for a National Championship while also being one of the leading contenders for National Player of the Year honors.
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A lot has changed in the landscape of college basketball over the years, however, Kyle Filipowski made the wise decision to stick around for one more season before moving on to the next phase of his career.