Ace Bailey is primarily focused on his ability on the court as he prepares for his rookie season with the Utah Jazz.
“Of course, you have to be aware of the business side of basketball,” Bailey said, per Tony Jones of The Athletic. “But I didn’t ask for all of this to come with it. I just want to hoop. I want to keep the main thing the main thing and stay focused. During pre-draft, I was surrounded by family and love. I’m big on family and loyalty. They were there for me even before I was Ace Bailey.”
The Jazz selected Bailey with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, although ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported that Utah “was not one of his preferred destinations.”
The representatives of the former Rutgers standout also declined a workout invitation from the Jazz during the pre-draft process, per Givony. Workout opportunities for the Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers were turned down as well.
Still, there didn’t appear to be any possibility of Bailey refusing to join Utah after he was drafted.
Bailey told reporters that he never considering not coming to the Jazz once he was selected and was seen putting in work at the organization’s facilities after traveling to join the team.
It’s easy to see why Utah was still interested in adding the 18-year-old despite the unusual pre-draft process. Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game on 46.0/34.6/69.2 shooting splits during his freshman year with the Scarlet Knights.
His ability to pull up and connect on contested jumpers given his size is impressive, measuring in at just under 6’8″ without shoes at the NBA draft combine.
Bailey made his summer league debut on Saturday, scoring eight points during Utah’s 93-89 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. While he shot just 3-of-13 from the field, he pulled down seven rebounds and connected on a free throw that sealed the victory for the Jazz.
As he continues to navigate through summer league action, Bailey is putting the off-court rumors leading up to the draft behind him.
