Kyle Filipowski, a former top prospect, saw his stock slip unexpectedly in the 2024 NBA Draft. While his on-court talent remained undeniable, reports of off-court issues reportedly caused some teams to hesitate.
At the center of the discussion was Filipowski’s relationship with his girlfriend, Caitlin Hutchinson. The reported age gap of six years, with Hutchinson being significantly older than the young athlete, raised eyebrows among NBA franchises.
“NBA teams are talking about the fact that, they had question marks about his girlfriend being so much older than him, why was he estranged from his family because of this whole situation, apparently doesn’t talk to his parents, or his brother. It’s a very odd situation.”
“NBA teams are talking about the fact that, they had question marks about his girlfriend being so much older than him, why was he estranged from his family because of this whole situation, apparently doesn’t talk to his parents, or his brother. It’s a very odd situation…” pic.twitter.com/dwuUeGy993
— OpenCourt-Basketball (@OpenCourtFB) June 28, 2024
Filipowski’s brother, Daniel, publicly addressed the situation on social media, adding fuel to the fire.
“It’s been tough to watch Kyle isolate himself from the family. Caitlin seems to have a strong influence, and it’s come at a cost. We just want what’s best for him, but right now, that bridge seems broken.”
Other than messaging him on his IG account, don’t know how to get in touch with him. But look up and read on Mormon grooming and brainwashing and you’ll find some introductory details in there to connect some dots into the story that is going on here
— Daniel Filipowski (@thedanielflip24) June 27, 2024
These comments, as well as one’s of their mother, seemed to confirm the rumors of a rift within the Filipowski family. This reported family discord, on top of the age difference, reportedly caused some teams to question Filipowski’s overall maturity level.
Kyle Filipowski’s brother and MOM are on here revealing how his girlfriend groomed him into mormon culture and cut him off from his family
…and now he ends up with the Utah Jazz pic.twitter.com/Q3PXlrqYJ7
— kev mahserejian (@RotoSurgeon) June 27, 2024
Despite the concerns, Filipowski ultimately landed with the Utah Jazz. The Jazz organization might have been more comfortable overlooking these issues, or perhaps they saw an opportunity to mentor Filipowski and help him navigate these challenges.
Only time will tell how Filipowski handles the transition to the NBA. His talent is undeniable, but the questions surrounding his personal life cast a shadow. Whether Filipowski can silence the doubters and thrive in the NBA will depend on his ability to address these concerns and prove his focus and maturity.
