When Basketball Fans hear “3-13 shooting”, “1-5 from downtown”, and “4 rebounds”, they automatically assume a player performed terribly throughout the game or they are an awful player. These stats belonged to the fifth pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz’s Ace Bailey, during his first summer league game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Although it was only his first game, critics have begun to question his talent and potential. Perhaps the Jazz didn’t draft a player; they drafted a project. Bailey’s body is NBA-ready, but is his mind?
Before the draft, former Rutgers Star Ace Bailey faced various scrutiny from media outlets and specific players for his decision not to work out and showcase his skills for any team. 76ers’ 9x all-star Paul George on “The Podcast P with Paul George” said, “If I am Ace Bailey, I can’t get mad if my stock drops… you’re not in a position to make those demands”. The 76ers, rumored to be eyeing Bailey with the No. 3 pick, ultimately selected Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe, possibly influenced by Bailey’s controversial approach.
Philadelphia 76ers v Minnesota Timberwolves Paul George— NBA Superstar
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Ace took the floor last Saturday Night against Edgecombe and the Sixers under strict scrutiny. Despite a poor shooting night, Bailey was involved in clutch moments such as securely rebounding a game-tying 3-pointer with 4 seconds left and making one out of two free throws to seal the game. More importantly, Bailey impressed his coaching staff with his defensive tenacity and physical play. Jazz Coach Will Hardy explained to ESPN, “He’s an NBA body and athlete. He’s a great teammate too. I’ve had nothing but positive reviews from all the coaches and his teammates this first week”.
Bouncing back from an inefficient debut, Ace Bailey showed flashes of his Rutgers form in his second Summer League game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The 6’8” forward added 18 points and 7 Rebounds on 7-of-14 shooting, including three made three-pointers, offering a reminder that his first outing may have simply been early jitters.
At Rutgers, alongside Ace was the 19.4 PPG scorer, Dylan Harper, who went second overall and is yet to make his Summer League Debut for the San Antonio Spurs due to a minor groin issue. Though this is minimal, the worry becomes if Harper can’t stay healthy in July, how’s he going to survive an 82-game season?
Despite not playing a game, Dylan has already drawn comparisons to a couple of NBA players and expectations. With a 6 ft. 6 frame, Scouts have seen similarities in Pistons' guard Cade Cunningham, who is also a bigger guard that can score in a multitude of ways while simultaneously utilizing physicality. Harper is set to make his debut on July 10 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
2025 NBA California Classic - Golden State Warriors v San Antonio Spurs Dylan Harper—Spurs Rookie
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As the Summer League progresses, scouts and analysts will begin to assess whether Bailey and Harper justified their draft positions. Their early performances will offer the first real glimpse into how they might fit into their respective franchises and how well they handle the growing spotlight.