A promising basketball player from Duke found himself in the center of a tricky controversy right before the NBA Draft— and it all surrounds an older woman who allegedly groomed him from a young age.
Kyle Filipowski expected to be a top pick in the NBA Draft. However, he dropped to the second round, which surprised many. Analysts said his performance and interviews were not great, but his relationship with Caitlin Hutchinson, who is 28 years old, was also a concern.
Hutchinson and Filipowski’s relationship started when he was in high school, when Hutchinson was acting as a babysitter for the rising star.
“She was my babysitter for like 10 years,” he was quoted as saying in a tweet by NBACentel. “Once I started getting traction she made a move on me. I felt like I was preordered. That’s where we at today.”
This information inevitably raised some eyebrows, especially because of the significant age difference.
Some people, including his family, accused Hutchinson of grooming Filipowski.
The allegations gained traction online and were discussed widely on social media, even going so far as to become permanently archived on Know Your Meme.
Kyle’s mother and brother were vocal about their disapproval, claiming Hutchinson had plans to marry Kyle and had influenced him significantly, even converting him to Mormonism.
The allegations added fuel to the controversial fire that was already burning, drawing more attention to the taboo relationship.
During his NBA Draft interviews, Kyle was asked multiple times about his relationship with Hutchinson. This, along with his on-court performance, contributed to his slide to the second round. Many felt his personal life overshadowed his basketball talents.
According to SB Nation, the public reaction to the relationship was mixed, with some supporting Kyle and others criticizing him and siding with his family, believing Hutchinson’s intentions were questionable.
The controversy became a hot topic on platforms like Twitter and TikTok, as those platforms are where the majority of his age group spend their time on social media.
Despite the off-court drama, the Utah Jazz ultimately drafted Kyle, showing faith in his abilities. The team —based in the state with the strongest population of Mormons— reportedly hopes the focus will return to his performance on the court.
Kyle’s transition to the NBA will be closely watched to see if the controversy affects his game any further.
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