Ace Bailey has been a reputation that has made lots of headlines since he completed the NCAA season with Rutgers.
He carried out brilliantly in faculty, averaging over 17 factors a recreation, proving to be top-of-the-line scorers within the 2025 Draft class.
The ESPN mock draft had him go third total to the Philadelphia 76ers, however issues took a flip in his pre-draft course of that led him to slide down a number of positions to the Utah Jazz, who had the fifth choose.
Philly have been taking a look at him carefully and even invited Ace Bailey for a exercise, however he canceled it to pressure a transfer to a different staff.
Groups just like the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and the New Orleans Pelicans have been all anticipated to draft him if he fell to a decrease place on the day, however the Jazz determined to select Bailey regardless of him clearly not desirous to be with the franchise.
An ESPN Insider has expressed his ideas on the scenario and drawn comparisons of this to Steph Curry’s draft course of with the Warriors.
Curry was drafted because the quantity seven total choose within the 2009 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors.
Nevertheless, his father Dell Curry and even the three-point king himself wished to go to the New York Knicks, who had the eighth choose within the draft
They even denied their exercise with the Warriors, however the franchise ended up drafting him and the remaining is historical past.
Spears drew comparisons of Curry’s scenario to Bailey, who additionally didn’t need to be picked by the Jazz.
He tweeted: “Ace Bailey story jogs my memory about Stephen Curry‘s father and agent asking the Warriors to not draft him in 2009 with the seventh choose so he may go to the Knicks with the following choose.
“Steph additionally didn’t exercise for Warriors. Undeterred Warriors GM Larry Riley drafted Steph in any case.
Spears added to this by saying: “As soon as drafted, Stephen Curry reported received [to] the Warriors with out concern. All of it labored out.”
Whereas Ace Bailey‘s present recreation doesn’t resemble Curry, he’s coming off a greater status from faculty than the four-time NBA champion.
His means to attain on all ranges has helped him draw comparisons to some elite gamers, which is why groups have been even prepared to surrender gamers for him.
In his draft day press convention, Bailey acknowledged that he centered on taking part in basketball and let his staff make the opposite selections.
| Season | Factors | Rebounds | Blocks | Discipline purpose % | Three Level % |
| 2024-25 | 17.6 | 7.2 | 1.3 | 46% | 36% |
Whereas Bailey might not be able to be with the Jazz, the rookie has no selection, based on NBA Insider Shams Charania.
He will probably be taking part in on a younger staff coached by the gifted Will Hardy, who has finished an excellent job with the gamers they’ve at their disposal.
The staff is anticipated to maneuver a number of of their star gamers, together with Collin Sexton and John Collins, which can make extra room for Bailey to take management.
He’s already changing into one of the talked about rookies, which is why all eyes will probably be on him when the season ideas off in October.
