Should the Utah Jazz Start Kyle Filipowski at Center?

How the Timelines Match

When comparing the 7-footers to each other, they are statistically indistinguishable. That makes the next logical difference maker between the two their intangibles.

Nurkic is 31, and it’s extremely unlikely that he gets any better than he is right now. That’s why the 22 year-old Filipowski needs to start.

It’s not because he’s better now, it’s because he has the time and the tools to become better. Let’s not forget that he’s already proven he has a ridiculous upside, winning summer league MVP earlier this year.

Offense and Playstyle

Utah has a relatively simple — albeit effective — gameplan: space the floor, open the paint, and move the ball around the arc. When Nurkic is in, it feels like he’s playing a role he was never meant to. But for Filipowski, its a completely different story.

He clearly has a lot to improve on, but when watching the way he plays, its like he was specifically designed to play this brand of basketball. Afterall, he’s a seven-footer who: stretches the floor, attacks defenders off the dribble, makes the extra pass, and keeps the ball moving instead of clogging the lane.

Those traits matter for a Jazz roster that struggles with spacing when Kessler or the other bigs are on the court. With Filipowski, Utah can run five-out sets, use him as a trailer in transition, and involve him in pick-and-pop actions that pull opposing centers out of the paint.

He’s a perfect offensive fit with the way Will Hardy wants this team to play.

Defense and Development

This is where Filipowski becomes even more important.

We already know who the veteran bigs are. They’re reliable guys who can give 10–20 minutes a game, but they aren’t going to become defensive masterminds over night.

Filipowski, however, has some defensive potential that just needs time, reps, and real NBA responsibility. It’s overtly obvious that he isn’t an elite defender, he might not even be average. Still, we’ve seen flashes before, and with his instincts as a help defender, natural timing, and above-average mobility, there is a chance he could become a real rim deterrer.

None of that is polished yet, but it can be, which is something that cannot be said about the Jazz’s other centers.

The only thing standing between Kyle Filipowski and becoming a viable two-way NBA center is experience. Letting him learn now is infinitely more valuable than stability from veterans that won’t be here long-term.