Utah Jazz Draftee Kyle Filipowski's Family Claims He Was Brainwashed By 26-YO Girlfriend And 'Mormon Culture'

Kyle Filipowski was drafted by the Utah Jazz with the 32nd overall pick in the NBA Draft, shockingly sliding out of the first round of the Draft. He was a green room invite for night one and could be seen being consoled by his girlfriend Caitlin Hutchinson after not having his name called in the first round. Filipowski's mother and brother have claimed on social media that Kyle's girlfriend has brainwashed and groomed him.

"I'm Kyle's oldest brother.. You all don't have a clue of the extent of the story that has to do with his girlfriend. There's a story that has been pushed under the table for nearly two years now."

"Other than messaging him [Jonathan Givony] 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 wrote.

"You are opening a two-year issue...and she is 28 with an endgame 3 years ago to have a diamond ring on her hand when Kyle left Duke. HE WAS STILL IN HS."

Filipowski is a 20-year-old who was just drafted into the NBA, but his girlfriend is a 26-year-old. With the two being longtime sweethearts, it's unclear when the pair started dating. She was 24 years old when Kyle was 18, so there are natural reasons for people to be concerned if the pair had been together earlier.

Kyle's family claims that this was a plan from Hutchinson to eventually get married to Filipowski, who's projected to be a successful NBA player. Given the Mormon brainwashing allegations, Kyle ending up with the Utah Jazz looks even weirder and probably explains his Draft slide.

The Jazz probably promised to draft him at 32, which could have led to Kyle's representatives holding him back from other teams. NBA Draft expert Jonathan Givony claimed Filipowski's slide was mainly due to his poor workouts.

"He's competitive. The workouts weren't great, people tell me there were question marks about the interview, they said he was nervous, he didn't make shots at the Pro Day, what's going on with this girlfriend... This is all nonsense. It's hard to find a 7-footer like Kyle Filipowski who is this skilled. Somebody needs to draft him very early in the second round,"

Givony is the one who brought the age gap with his girlfriend to light, dismissing the same before revealing he has no relationship with his parents.

"He has an older girlfriend. She's like 25, 26, and people are like, 'Ah, this is weird.' Like, give me a freaking break, guys. He doesn't talk to his parents."

Filipowski averaged 16.4 points and 8.3 rebounds in two seasons at Duke. He was efficient from three-point range, shooting 34.8% from deep in his NCAA career. He's a seven-footer with a 6'10" wingspan, which could raise defensive concerns around him but has aided his soft touch and offensive talents.

Filipowski's offensive talents are indisputable. He can dribble and attack with fluidity, providing an instant scoring impact in the NBA. He's a phenomenal playmaker at his size, giving the Jazz some added passing creativity from the inside to the perimeter. He can attack mismatches and play with his back to the basket, a rarity in the Jazz's offensive schemes.

His defense could be of concern, with Filipowski considered a negligible rim protector. If Walker Kessler stays on the squad, these two big men will bring opposing skill sets to the court. He has a chance to thrive in the NBA with the Jazz, though it seems there may have been more thought behind his fit within the culture of Utah.

Related: 2024 NBA Draft Results: Complete Second-Round Selections

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News . We really appreciate your support.