Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Provo, Utah. Currently writing for Athlon Sports, SB Nation, and FanSided, he has covered theUtah Jazz and BYU athletics since 2024 and graduates from Utah Valley University in the Spring.
We welcome you back to another exciting edition of “Flip Through the Galaxy”! In this episode, our gallant hero faces a life-or-death encounter with the perilous asteroid gate!
(Alien music overtones)
Filipowski: “My readings indicate we’re finally nearing the asteroid gate. Stay strapped in, crew — the guardians of the next realm don’t take kindly to outsiders.”
Collier: “I’m not worried, Captain. No coverage is perfect. I can find the holes in any defense.”
Filipowski: (grimacing) “Let’s just hope they don’t give you a clean look at a shot. With your aim, any number of unintended targets could become a victim.”
[In walks Sergeant Key, toting a Rapid Blaster 3500]
Key: “Who cares? You miss every shot you don’t take — that’s what Colonel Clarkson always says.”
Williams: “Say, Captain, why are we going to the asteroid gate, anyhow? I’m really more comfortable back on—”
Sensabaugh: “—Back on Earth. Yes, we know, Private. Sitting forever may sound like luxury to you, but the President’s bench is a prison. *A prison, I tell you!*”
Filipowski: “Everyone settle down! We’re minutes away from our destination, and the slightest sign of weakness will turn the USS Jazzercise into sliced swiss faster than you can say ‘capture the Flagg’!”
“The asteroid belt is the border between our world and the next. The boundary that separates our microscopic lives from the space dominated by giants. Super-hoopers and their unforgiving orbits roam beyond this belt of space debris. Titanic bodies like planet Antetokounmpo, inescapable gravities the likes of Curry-2, and even the red giant LeBron.”
Hendricks: “LeBron? But that star could go supernova any year now!”
Filipowski: “I understand, but this is a risk we must take to become immortalized. Our mission is to join them. Any of you who wish to back out, this is your final chance — you know where to find the escape pods.”
Will Captain Flip pass the test of the asteroid belt? Does he and his musical crew have what it takes to evolve beyond their human limitations, or will they face the fatal demise met by so many incapable peers before them? Tune in next week for the season finale of “Flip Through the Galaxy”!
Unfortunately, Flip Through the Galaxy ran out of funding before the final episode aired. Something about a lack of interest in bright yellow merchandise — a poor rebranding effort to indicate a new direction for the show.
I hear rumors that a reboot is in development, of course.
Kyle Filipowski has been something of a revelation for the youth-first, wins-eventually Utah Jazz in the 2024-25 season. On a squad with no incentive to win, Flip has taken on an increasing role as the season advances with the floundering Jazz, despite slipping to the second round of the most recent NBA Draft.
A terrific selection with the 32nd overall pick, the former All-American may have been the most NBA-ready of Utah’s three selections. With the 10th, 29th, and 32nd picks at their disposal, CEO and governor Danny Ainge and the Jazz took three players whom they believed could develop into a future core with Utah. Early returns? Well, let’s call them mixed.
Utah Jazz v Toronto Raptors Filipowski and Williams team up for a rebound.
Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images
No, we are not there yet.
Cody Williams, a promising yet... underdeveloped, shall we say, prospect has failed to deliver much of a highlight reel in his rookie season. An all-or-nothing swipe at the back of the lottery, he may become an excellent player one day. To this point in the season, however, the Williams home run swing was taken with a bat of al dente spaghetti while wearing beer goggles.
I still believe in Cody, and I’m not sure why. Maybe he reminds me of me on the basketball court, minus the athletic ability, talent, size, length, and cornrows.
A strong-framed, gifted passer, and a fascinating prospect, Collier was certainly a good pickup in the late first round. His limited athleticism and shooting touch, however, could make Josh Giddey blush.
Averaging 7.5 points on 46.9/43.8/88.9 shooting splits is a promising start six games into March, though, and he seems a bit more comfortable on an NBA floor than he did in October.
Isaiah Collier was the Western Conference Rookie of the Month in February, as he planted his flag in the playmaker patch with nearly 10 dimes per night. A strong-framed, gifted passer, and a fascinating prospect, Collier was certainly a good pickup in the late first round. His limited athleticism and shooting touch, however, could make Josh Giddey blush (currently last in the NBA in point guard 3-point percentage).
A great value for his draft position, but he still needs to prove he can be more than Great Value Russell Westbrook. At the moment, he’s still a “Kids, we have Russell Westbrook at home” type of player. If (and this is a universal if) he can develop a reliable jumpshot, Collier could be a starting-caliber point guard. As it stands now, his potential doesn’t surpass that of a sixth man when it comes to winning time.
So we return to Filipowski. The third and final selection by the Jazz to this point in the season. His production has been promising, and he’s clearly proved to be the most NBA-molded player of the Jazz’s young core, save for Walker Kessler.
Averaging 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per night while shooting 51.8% from the field and 38.5% from three-point land are terrific numbers for a first-year big. This is what he did at Duke, and it’s translated well to the next level.
Though Flip may be the biggest immediate threat of the three rookies, Williams was picked up with a project in mind. Collier was picked as a best-available-player chance. Filipowski’s future doesn’t necessarily promise growth.
But here’s the asteroid belt we mentioned before. With an eye on future development, and discovering the future core of a competitive era for Utah Jazz basketball, how well does Kyle Filipowski project as a starting piece for a championship-caliber team?
Unless he becomes baby Sengun or a disciple of Jokic, I struggle to see a world in which Filipowski can overcome his defensive woes to become a net positive when wins matter and losses are poison. Though Flip may be the biggest immediate threat of the three rookies, Williams was picked up with a project in mind. Collier was picked as a best-available-player chance. Filipowski’s future doesn’t necessarily promise growth.
Filipowski serves his purpose now, but does the Jazz front office view him as a disposable camera — useful for the moment, but never meant to last? Filipowski’s star potential is dim, despite positive early returns.
I could be wrong, of course, and hope that I am, but maybe Flip Through the Galaxy’s cancellation wasn’t due to poor funding, but a poor result. In this universe, Captain Filipowski likely doesn’t make it through the asteroid gate alive.
Follow Calvin:
X:@sharkwaffles_
Instagram:@sharkwaffles_