Because this Utah Jazz rookie class is one of their most loaded, they're also under a microscope that not many previous rookie classes have been under. The season is still very young, yet there are some conclusions to make in such a small sample size.
Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier, and Kyle Filipowski have all had different starts to the season
1. Kyle Filipowski is their best rookie
At this point, the debate might already be over, though Collier has not been given the chance to show all too much (more on that later). However, Filipowski has been rock solid to start, and it looks like his production has not been a fluke.
He came into the NBA compared to Jazz alum Kelly Olynyk. The comparison actually isn't that bad. Olynyk is a high-IQ stretch big whose size, combined with his skillset, makes him a persistent matchup problem. Despite him being perhaps the most unathletic player the NBA has ever seen, there's a reason why he's made over $100 million in his NBA career.
Filipowski looks like a doppelganger of Olynyk, but only to a certain extent. Unlike Olynyk, Filipowski looks like a much more fluid athlete, which only makes one wonder if perhaps his ceiling is even higher.
Whenever he’s gotten extended run, Kyle Filipowski has showed his impressive,
— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) November 13, 2024
versatile skillset
In just 23 minutes, he had a career-high 18 points on an efficient 7-12 FGs (2-4 3Ps) along with 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks
First round talent 👀 pic.twitter.com/GYOxQIesEN
His production has not been surprising, as what was surprising was when the Jazz got him early in the second round. He's made it clear that other teams were wrong to pass up on him. He might not be a future star, but he has shown good signs that he should be a staple for the Jazz's future.
While it looks like he will finish as the Jazz's best rookie, it will take some time to determine whether he'll pan out better than the other rookies in the class long-term.
2. Cody Williams will be a work in progress
What's made Filipowski look good is the fact that Williams, by comparison, looks like he will need some time to fully transition to the NBA. As the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Williams came to the Jazz with the highest expectations out of all their rookies.
Once Taylor Hendricks went down, Williams was suddenly given a much bigger role. He hasn't been all-around terrible, but he has not taken his role and ran with it exactly. That's not to say that the potential isn't there because it is. His Rookie of the Year case is almost non-existent, even if it's not completely unreasonable, but Williams has shown at times that he is a jack-of-all-trades wing.
Look at that pass by Cody Williams... threading the needle pic.twitter.com/TbwSi3CBlE
— Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) November 8, 2024
Right now, the Jazz are setting the bar at rotation player for Williams. They don't want him to shoulder the scoring load, as Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Collin Sexton, and Jordan Clarkson will handle that. As Utah starts to figure out what they want to do, expect Williams to have a bigger role, but also expect him to come into his own at a snail's pace.
3. Isaiah Collier has got some mountains to climb
Like Filipowski, there was plenty of hype about Collier because of how NBA-ready he looks. So far, the results look promising, but he definitely needs to play more before anyone can come to conclusions.
In Collier's case though, it might be hard for him to find consistent minutes. Most of the guard minutes are going to George, Sexton, Clarkson, and Patty Mills. That doesn't leave much playing time for him to take.
As the season progresses, many will watch to see who will stay and who will go. Collier is definitely in the former department, but knowing who's a keeper could potentially determine what role he will have by the time the season is over.
He definitely deserves a closer look, but until someone gets moved, he might not get one in his rookie season.