Jayson Tatum, Kyle Filipowski (Image Credits: Getty Images)
The first round of the 2024 NBA Draft was completed on Wednesday, with 30 talented young players being selected by NBA teams. However, Duke center Kyle Filipowski, who was highly anticipated for the draft, was not chosen in the first round.
Nevertheless, the star player of the Boston Celtics spoke out in support of Filipowski for not being selected. NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor created a list of the best remaining picks for the second draft round and shared it on social media.
Lot of teams gone regret passing up on Flip https://t.co/uS1E6caYtF
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) June 27, 2024
“My top 10 remaining prospects for day 2 of the 2024 NBA draft are Bobi Klintman, Tyler Kolek, Johnny Furphy, Jonathan Mogbo, Adem Bona, Tyler Smith, Kyle Filipowski, Kevin McCullar, Pelle Larsson, and KJ Simpson.” O’Connor wrote in his post on X.
Tatum reposted O’Connor’s post and mentioned in the caption that many teams would later regret not selecting Filipowski in the draft.
“Lot of teams gone regret passing up on Flip.” Tatum wrote in his post on X.
Tatum Warns Celtics: Passing on Filipowski Will Be a Mistake
Filipowski played two seasons at Duke, where he earned Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Week. Filipowski, who was named ACC Rookie of the Year, showcased great talent and fantastic shooting skills. However, his draft prospects were affected by his lack of athleticism. Tatum believes the Celtics will regret passing on Filipowski, as they chose Creighton guard Baylor Scheierman with their final first-round pick. Given that Boston won’t pick again until No. 54 overall, it is questionable whether Tatum and Filipowski will play together next year.
After the team won its 18th championship in the 2023-24 season, star player Tatum was interviewed about the challenges he faced during the playoffs. In response, the 26-year-old forward made hilarious statements regarding the opponent teams.
