Kyle Filipowski & John Tonje join Roundball Roundup 🎙️ | UTAH JAZZ

Kyle Filipowski & John Tonje join Roundball Roundup 🎙️ | UTAH JAZZ

here at Summer League with Kyle Philpowski, John Ton after one of the more entertaining games of Vegas summer league. Thank you both for taking the time to join me. Start with you, Kyle. What was and what has this entire summer league experience been like for you? You’ve been on quite the tear. Yeah, I mean just having this experience last year that um you know helped me a lot going into this year just building the confidence going through that whole year of of ups and downs. It it really prepared me for for moments like this. Um and so now I’m just going in there trying to better myself going into year two. John, it’s your first game in summer league between Salt Lake and Vegas after dealing with that ankle injury. How’d it feel to get out there and actually play in the game and make your first three-pointer? Yeah, it felt great. Uh, you know, I’ve been kind of itching and eager to get out there, but um, you know, on the right timing. So, it was great to be out there with the fellas and, uh, compete and, you know, play basketball, do what we love. What have you seen from Kyle this summer league getting a front row view and to be able to see him dominate in so many games? Uh, I think the best way to put it is like he’s a monster. He goes out there and competes. Uh we never have to worry about Flip. No one’s worried about Flip before, you know, before the game. So, uh we know he brings it. Uh huge part huge part of what we’re doing. And um learn a lot from him, even though I’m older than him. 24 years old and you’re still learning from Kyle Philowski. That’s right. That’s right. Kyle, take yourself back to like last year where I imagine your head’s spinning because you just got drafted. You land in a new place in Salt Lake, have a summer league, and then go to Vegas. How much more comfortable do you feel now speaking on that than you did then? So much more comfortable. I mean, last year going into this experience, obviously going to a new team, it was uh, you know, I definitely doubted myself a lot more. I definitely hesitated. And um you know, you for you, John, you you playing your first game back today, you you look like you had so much more confidence than I remembered I had in myself last year. So um you know, that’s that’s great on your end. And you know, that’s something I kind of wish I did have last year, but but obviously going through that experience and like I said, just how how much one year can can change a person’s perspective and and and and your confidence in your in your game. You did look comfortable. What helped in that being able to adjust really quickly? Yeah, I think um just coaches and teammates just believing in me. Uh giving me opportunity to just go out there and feel like it’s another day. Uh everyone was encouraging me and I was just you know I love to play I love to play the game. So honestly just come out here and play basketball like uh couldn’t be anywhere anywhere better. Let’s start with that. Where did you develop the love of the game of basketball? Uh North Nebraska uh on the concrete. I I’m a kid that started playing re uh recess basketball. That’s when I picked it up. No one in my family plays basketball. So, uh, really just fell in love with the with the game at, you know, at the park and then just stayed for hours and, uh, you know, here we are. Kyle, where did the love of the game come for you? Just since I was a little kid, I had a ball in my hands. So, uh, you know, that’s just it just came naturally for me. I just fell in love with the game. That’s all I could really think about. I couldn’t think about doing anything else from when the elementary school teachers, you know, tell you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” up and I’m saying I I just want to play basketball. I want to be an NBA player and um you know having that dream since I was a little kid and and and making that a reality is is you know it is a a blessing. I’m really grateful for um you know the hard work I put in to get here. For John, this is the start of the journey, but for Kyle, you’re one year in, so I guess you’re the vet in this situation of of young and old. What did you learn in that one year that you didn’t expect coming into the league? I just think the biggest thing is that every day is never going to be the same. You know, there’s 82 games in a season. The the season is super long. Um, you know, so I think the most important thing is just trying to keep a level head through it all. There was a bunch of ups and downs I went through and um you know the first half of the season was really uh a big learning period for me and the second half I was starting I was able to break out a little bit more and put those tools that I learned to the test. Um so just trying to stay poised through it, stay level-headed, uh patient with myself, you know, not giving myself too many expectations. I think that really helped me learn a lot from the older guys and and and you know helped it translate on the court. played in a bunch of really high level games though, John. I imagine that helps in translating to the pre-draft process going up against guys during that and getting drafted. Has your Has it sunk in that you’re at this point in your career where it’s starting to feel like you’re a part of the Jazz? Uh I’m not sure if it has yet. It’s still it’s still, you know, fever dream. It’s surreal. Uh, every day I drive into the, you know, into the jazz, uh, you know, facilities and I type in the code. I’m like, they really gave me the code to this place. Like, how, like, do I actually have a locker here? Like, it’s it’s it’s surreal to be here and I’m just trying to make the most of it. Kyle, so many Duke players in the NBA. You were able to face one of them the other day in Kanipple. What is it about that place that prepares you so well for the NBA? just the just the the work we put in day in and day out every day. We’re just trying to get better. Um, you know, and and the coaches, the whole coaching staff, whether it’s the trainers, assistant coaches, weight trainers, they all hold us accountable. They just want us to be the best versions of ourselves. Um, you know, and also playing at that level, you know, there’s definitely another level of of pressure you could feel. So, it definitely prepares you for all the things that come um you know in the NBA. Wisconsin’s no slouch either. One of your teammates actually went there as well, Steven Crow. Right. That’s right. That’s right. So, it was great to have him uh here kind of easing the transition. We’ve been hanging out together. So, it’s been it’s been a blessing. Is it good to have that sort of familiarity already on the staff to help already on the the team to help you in this new experience? Absolutely. Uh it’s always great to see Badgers and you know, anywhere, especially in the same locker room. So it was it was great. Competitiveness is something that so many athletes have. I want to start with you Kyle. Is there something that you are unreasonably competitive in like you’re saying other than basketball? Other than basketball cuz imagine it’s a lifestyle being competitive in basketball. I mean board games, video games. I try to I try to uh you know keep my my my my poise during those games when I lose. Um you know because I know it’s I know for those things it’s just a game as well and I try not to let my my basketball competitiveness get the best of me. Do do you have one of those moments when you’re on the on the court today and you’re shouting at the crowd? We all saw what what it brought out of you. Yeah. I mean, like I said, that’s just my love for the game ever since I was really little. And um just being able to play this every day and have this be my job. I’m I’m super grateful for it. Um you know, and and and in moments like that, just just that bringing out the best of me, I think, uh it’s really cool to just experience that for my life. John, hitting that clutch shot at the end, being able to feel it yourself. What was it like in that moment for you? Oh, it was great. I was just trying to um you know be ready to shoot and be someone that can compliment guys that are driving such as you know Isaiah. So um you know I got out quick and they didn’t they didn’t recover and he you know he made a great pass and it was it was great. It was you know it was a good shot for a couple seconds but uh it was it was great to you know have that one go down and just know that I was confident you know at the end of the game. Final thing we’ll wrap with this with both of you. Kyle, thing you’re looking forward to most out of this summer league? I think just already starting building this foundation with these younger guys. Um, you know, with John, with with with Ace, keeping it up with with Isaiah and Cody and and just having that translate going into the season. I think that’s going to be huge for us to already get that chemistry down and um you know just show that we’re really trying to build something here. It almost feels like a a college group of young players coming together. Yeah. Yeah, it definitely does. John, you were at college a lot longer than Kyle, but what what are you looking forward to for the rest of summer? Uh continue to get better. I love the game because I love to, you know, compete keep improving. It’s whatever you put in is what you get out. As well as uh just trying to, you know, build build these relationships. So, it was great to come out here and actually get on the floor with some of these guys uh and just continue to take the time to get to know each other. John Ton, Kyle Philpowski here on the podcast Round Ball Roundup, Las Vegas, guys. Thank you so much. Thank you. Appreciate it. Appreciate it.

The Utah Jazz sophomore and rookie joined JP Chunga from NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

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