Duke

Duke basketball players — including a key starter — recovering from offseason surgery

Duke coach Jon Scheyer talks with Kyle Filipowski (30) in the second half against Tennessee during the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer talks with Kyle Filipowski (30) in the second half against Tennessee during the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. rwillett@newsobserver.com

Kyle Filipowski’s route to what he and Duke hope will be a standout sophomore season with the Blue Devils will include rehabilitation from surgery.

Duke announced Thursday that the 7-foot Filipowski has undergone arthroscopic surgery on both hips and is beginning his recovery and rehabilitation process.

Named the ACC’s top rookie this past season, when he led Duke in scoring and rebounding, Filipowski announced Tuesday he will forgo entering the NBA Draft to play his sophomore season with the Blue Devils.

The surgery is similar to procedures recent Duke players Tre Jones and Joey Baker had during their college careers. Jones had his surgery between his freshman and sophomore seasons and was named the ACC player of the year in 2020 before entering the NBA.

Baker had his hip surgery last April before transferring to Michigan, where he played in 34 games for the Wolverines last season.

Dr. Chad Mather, a Duke orthopedic surgeon specializing in hips, performed Filipowski’s surgery.

Filipowski averaged 15.1 points and 8.9 rebounds last season when he led all Division I freshmen with 16 double-doubles. He started all 36 games as Duke went 27-9 and won the ACC tournament championship.

In addition to Filipowski’s surgery, fellow Duke freshman big man Christian Reeves had surgery on his left ankle.

Reeves, a 7-1 center, played in 13 games last season for the Blue Devils.

Dr. Ned Amendola, one of Duke’s team doctors, performed his surgery.

This story was originally published April 13, 2023 at 2:38 PM.

Steve Wiseman
The News & Observer
Steve Wiseman was named Raleigh News & Observer and Durham Herald-Sun sports editor in May 2025. He covered Duke athletics, beginning in 2010, prior to his current assignment. In the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest, he placed in the top 10 in beat writing in 2019, 2021 and 2022, breaking news in 2019, event coverage in 2025 and explanatory writing in 2018. Before coming to Durham in 2010, Steve worked for The State (Columbia, SC), Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.), The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.), Charlotte Observer and Hickory (NC) Daily Record covering beats including the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, University of South Carolina athletics and the S.C. General Assembly. He’s won numerous state-level press association awards. Steve graduated from Illinois State University in 1989. 
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER