NBA fans are feeling a bit concerned for Ace Bailey after learning more about the rookie’s manager.
Video spread across social media Friday of Omar Cooper, who has been billed as Bailey’s agent but functions as his manager. In one social media video, Cooper is seen showing off his chains and an expensive watch while mugging at the camera.
This is Omar Cooper
Ace Bailey’s representation.
”Bailey’s agent, Omar Cooper, also wanted to get paid to do on-camera interviews this past season.” pic.twitter.com/EaO06m9lcj
— Jazzketball (@Jazzketballl) June 27, 2025
Some also pointed to a report from Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman, who claimed that Cooper had sought payment for doing on-camera interviews.
Bailey’s agent, Omar Cooper, also wanted to get paid to do on-camera interviews this past season.
It just seems as though Ace Bailey has received some poor advice over the past year.
Has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. https://t.co/PefNUuq7n9
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 17, 2025
Many got the impression that Cooper is using Bailey for money and influence.
Feel bad for the kid. Looks as though he’s being played like Rodman and Williams were. Sad.
— Bad to the Bone (@jm54115290) June 27, 2025
🤣🤣🤣🤣 man check all the boxes for a person you just can’t trust for some reason
— Bran Cook Em Up ‼️ (@BranBran_Online) June 27, 2025
He’s the type of guy that screams, “ I do this for the kids!”
When in reality he’s all about himself and how much money he can mooch off the kids.
— Bazooka Joe Willie (@Lucky_Luke1990) June 27, 2025
It used to be an honor for a young man to
even be considered draftable by an NBA team
Now it’s become an annual public-humiliation ritual/hostage-standoff led by teenagers, their goofy parents, and “advisors”
— ⚡️Bye Bye Student Loans⚡️ (@JdfixesCredit) June 27, 2025
Bailey received criticism before the draft for refusing to work out for teams drafting in the top five, and his representatives even warned one team he would not report to them if the team drafted him. Many felt Bailey was trying to engineer his way to a certain team in an untoward way.
The Utah Jazz ultimately selected Bailey at No. 5 without having worked him out, and Bailey did report to Utah on Saturday. Cooper has maintained that his client did nothing unusual during the pre-draft process.