The Utah Jazz didn't have a lot to write home about this year. Among the very few exciting subplots that came out this season, rookies Kyle Filipowski and Isaiah Collier showed enough promise by themselves for fans to be somewhat excited about the future. And yet, shockingly, neither got their flowers for their impressive rookie seasons.
It was already bad enough that their neither got any votes whatsoever for Rookie of the Year, but now, the NBA just released it's All-Rookie teams, per Shams Charania, and neither got any love their either?!
It's not like those two were the very best of their class, nor was the 2025 class all that impressive, but come on. Filipowski did something no Jazz rookie had ever done before around season's end, while Collier surpassed John Stockton for most assists by a Jazz rookie in franchise history.
That should count for something at least. The Jazz were terrible. There's no argument about that, but that shouldn't be held against their rookies, as some players named to the All-Rookie teams instead of them also played for terrible teams.
It's not like Collier or Filipowski dominated, but they made themselves stand out enough that at least one of them should have gotten the nod. Over who? It's hard to say because that may be construed as the rookie who made it didn't deserve it, but the point remains the same: they had a good case to make the team.
Making it even worse is that Collier just barely missed the mark too.
This should be motivation for next year
A tale as old as time is that players thrive when faced with skepticism. Collier and Filipowski just got there's by getting snubbed by the All-Rookie team. In fact, it only adds more fuel to the fire.
Lest we forget, both of them were picked later on in the 2024 NBA Draft, which may have given them motivation to prove the teams that passed on them made a mistake. They were impressive for where they were picked and still have doubts. Not making either All-Rookie team could give them more motivation to erase their flaws as players.
Collier could come into next season with a better jumper while Filipowski could come into next season as a better defender. If they can do that while building on what they were already good at this season, this could be exactly what pushes them to take it to another level.
It might not be right away, but if they get better next season, the Jazz's future gets more exciting. This news is as shocking as it is disheartening for the Jazz, but at the same time, it could be the best thing to happen to these two long-term.
By extension, Cody Williams not getting any love whatsoever could do the same for him!