Kyle Filipowski has been juggling playing two positions with the Jazz, but he’s seeing the silver lining

Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) sets himself up for a 3-point attempt as the Jazz and Nuggets play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News This season, Kyle Filipowski has benefitted quite a bit with so much of the Utah Jazz’s front court being sidelined by injuries and after season-ending surgeries. He’s played in more games, played more minutes, started 38 games and been more productive in just about every statistical category.

But it’s not been an easy season. “Kyle is not a five, but Kyle can play five,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy said. “Our fives this season have not been healthy for a lot of the year...

it’s forcing Kyle to play more five than would be desirable. ” That’s one of the reasons the Jazz had Oscar Tshiebwe start alongside Filipowski in the second half of the Jazz’s Wednesday night loss to the Denver Nuggets. Hardy wanted to give Filipowski the chance to play at his natural position for at least part of the night.

Playing at the five, Filipowski has to plan for completely different defensive tactics and schemes as well as offensive strategies, but he also be adaptable enough to be able to switch back to playing at the four and knowing all of what’s required of him at that spot too. Hardy has made it a point to give Filipowski a lot of grace when things haven’t gone well for the second-year forward at different points this season, understanding that the Jazz are asking a lot of the young player. The acknowledgement of the difficulties he’s faced has meant a lot to Filipowski, and allowed him to feel out both positions with a little more freedom.