Essentially the most intriguing query coming into the 2025 NBA Draft — the place will Ace Bailey, essentially the most polarizing and perplexing prospect within the pool, begin his professional profession? — has been answered.
The previous Rutgers star — who made headlines within the weeks main as much as Wednesday evening’s first spherical by refusing to endure personal exercises for a number of franchises — was chosen fifth total by the Utah Jazz.
Bailey had been projected as excessive as No. 3 in mock drafts and as little as No. 8 as NBA groups wrestled with the pre-draft interview and exercise course of.
MORE: Bailey will make NBA execs who don’t draft him look like dopes
Nonetheless, Bailey is the second-highest draft choose in program historical past following fellow former Scarlet Knight Dylan Harper, who was chosen second total by the San Antonio Spurs minutes earlier.
How did he deal with the controversy?
“I’ve an ideal circle that maintains the skin world whereas I simply give attention to the basketball half,” Bailey advised ESPN after he was chosen. “So I simply thank them daily.”
Bailey, nonetheless, appeared with out household or associates — the primary of the 5 preliminary picks to look solo after his choice.
He obtained reward from Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, so Bailey was requested if he was able to go to Utah and use these strikes on Giannis.
“Oh, for certain,” he stated. “I received some extra stuff for him, too.”
Right here’s ESPN analyst Jay Bilas’ scouting report on Ace Bailey after he was chosen:
“Past the measureables … he’s only a massive time shot-maker,” Bilas stated. “He makes robust photographs and so they’re contested photographs. He could make turnaround jumpers with a hand in his face. He’s actually good along with his pull-up sport. He shot like 65% on runners and floaters. He’s simply received a terrific really feel for scoring the basketball.
“I don’t suppose you’re going to discover a participant on this draft who has made made harder photographs than Ace Bailey has made. And I feel NBA gamers, after they had been watching them play this final yr, go, ‘Man, this dude can rating in a wide range of methods and makes NBA-caliber photographs.”
“He’s good in catch-and-shoot,” Bilas added. “He can enhance his deal with and his ending, however his expertise degree is de facto simple. An excellent athlete, he simply received a variety of skill. Now I feel he can enhance his decision-making, his shot choice, his playmaking and I feel he generally is a significantly better free-throw shooter however the expertise is simple.”
Harper and Bailey are the primary Rutgers duo to be picked in the identical first spherical, and the fourth Rutgers duo to be taken in the identical draft (1969, 1976, 1983, 1985).
MORE: Gov warns NBA team not to draft Bailey: ‘Something wrong’
Bailey is Rutgers’ fifth first-round choice, becoming a member of Harper, Quincy Douby, Roy Hinson and James Bailey, and he has an opportunity to be its best alum on the skilled degree if he can unlock his huge potential.
James Bailey, a member of Rutgers’ celebrated Remaining 4 crew, was picked sixth total in 1979 by the Seattle SuperSonics.
The ahead displayed his elite shot-making talents throughout a mercurial yr at Rutgers, the place he averaged 17.6 factors on 46% capturing (51.1% on twos, 34.6% on threes, 69.2% on free throws) throughout 30 appearances, together with a 39-point outburst in opposition to Indiana and a 37-point exhibiting in opposition to Northwestern.
However he additionally confirmed various the query marks that gave NBA personnel pause when evaluating his future prospects. Whereas he averaged 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals, Bailey struggled to stay centered defensively for stretches; he averaged simply 1.3 assists regardless of 15 subject aim makes an attempt per sport.
The Scarlet Knights’ lack of crew success with him and Harper — they went 15-17 total and had been by no means near incomes an NCAA Event bid — was additionally held in opposition to Bailey, bringing comparisons to different highly-touted prospects who lacked school success and flamed out within the NBA (Markelle Fultz, Ben Simmons).
After the Mavericks (Duke’s Cooper Flagg) and Spurs (Rutgers’ Dylan Harper) made the anticipated alternatives, the Sixers, with the third choose of the draft, handed on Bailey and chosen V.J. Edgecombe, a guard from Baylor.
“[Edgecombe] is excessive reward with a low threat,” Bilas stated. “Ace Bailey is excessive reward however slightly increased threat.”
The Hornets, with the fourth choose, grabbed Duke guard Kon Knueppel, an elite shooter “with actually deep vary,” Bilas stated.
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Brian Fonseca could also be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com.
