Ace Bailey can’t blame anyone other than herself for falling fifth in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Despite making talent a top three picks, Rutgers’ ace Bailey fell to the Utah Jazz with the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Bailey’s draft fell sharply due to his off-court attitude, his refusal to attend pre-draft training with NBA teams.
Bailey may not have been drafted by his chosen team, but there is no doubt about his talent. Speaking of which, are there any current NBA players who have a game similar to Bailey?
Even the cloud of controversy floating above his head, remember that Bailey was drafted in the fifth spot of the draft.
The NBA scout must have seen the incredible 18-year-old potential for him to be so highly selected. As far as his NBA player comparisons are concerned, Bailey himself answered this question.
He did so during his appearances on all Smoke podcasts in 2023, saying, “I’m comparing myself to Kevin Durant, Jason Tatum and Paul George.”
Now, that was a bold statement, but why did Bailey have to support these claims?
“I’m 6’9”, I can handle the ball, I can see the court, I can knock down the shot, I can drop the dribble down.
In the context, Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, shooting 46.0% from the field and 34.6% from the 3-point line in his only year in the NCAA.
The moment Bailey was drafted by the Jazz, Utah was labelled as the worst landing spot for a talented guard.
That didn’t help when former NBA player Jeff Teague praised the Philadelphia 76ers for avoiding Bailey. After all, Teague believes Bailey is a controversial player.
Despite the obvious obstacles, Jazz should not lose hope for Bailey to become the cornerstone of the organization in the future.
why? Well, even Stephen Curry had Bailey’s kind of concern when the Golden State Warriors drafted him in 2009.
But Curry and the Warriors have overcome these differences, and today the assassins who faced the baby are already helping the franchise win four NBA championships.
So yes, since the end of the 2025 NBA Draft, there is hope that Bailey will succeed in the jazz, no matter how rocky their start is.