Ace Bailey didn’t work out for any teams ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, and also canceled on the Philadelphia 76ers — who had the No. 3 pick on Wednesday night.
But the forward still went in the first round after he was drafted by the Utah Jazz.
Bailey was projected as a top-three pick. But his bizarre way of handling workouts and blowing off the only one he had scheduled caused for experts to question what he was doing.
ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony reported earlier this month that Bailey’s pre-draft strategy “perplexed some observers.”
“Sources say Bailey’s camp has informed interested teams that they believe he is a top-3 player in the draft,” Givony wrote, “but also seeks a clear pathway to stardom, perhaps feeling comfortable that a team will trade up to get him at Nos. 3 or 4, should he drop.”
The way Bailey went about his recruitment journey caused 76ers star Paul George to question what the 18-year-old was doing, noting he’s not in a position to be making demands.
“I think if I’m Ace Bailey I can’t get mad if my stock drops,” George recently said on “Podcast P with Paul George.” “But he’s canceled all workouts. Like he hasn’t worked out for any team. So, I think they made a big deal because we were scheduled to work him out and he canceled the day of. But he hasn’t worked out for any team.
“But you’re not in a position to be making those demands. Make it to the league first,” he continued. “It’s for sure the people around him. I don’t know who’s representing him, but I don’t think they’re going about it the right way.”
Bailey showcased his offense in his lone season at Rutgers when the 6-foot-8 forward averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 34.6% from 3-point range.