Ace Bailey’s Jazz feelings revealed as 2025 NBA Draft gamble backfires
There’s one major problem when a player tries to gamble with a draft: The teams hold the cards.
Ace Bailey’s attempt to maneuver his way to Washington, New Orleans or Brooklyn backfired when the Jazz selected him with the No. 5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
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The Jazz plan to keep Bailey, according to Givony, even though they were not a “preferred” destination.
“This was not one of his preferred destinations, Utah. He was hoping to get to either Washington, New Orleans or Brooklyn,” Givony said on the ESPN broadcast. “The Utah Jazz selected Bailey knowing that.”
Plenty of X users commented that Bailey did not seem the happiest after landing with Utah, and he didn’t reveal much when asked what he would say to those questioning if he’s pleased.
“I control what I control,” Bailey said after the selection. “How they feel (is) how they feel. But my team and me, just me focusing on the basketball and them doing what they doing, it happens.”
While many pegged Bailey as the No. 3 prospect in this class, he became the wild card in this draft after opting not to work out for any teams.
The Rutgers star was the only U.S.-based prospect to do so, per Givony.
When he canceled on the 76ers, the owners of the No. 3 pick, it opened the doors for him to slide.
His camp reportedly wanted “a clear pathway to stardom,” per Givony, who explained why he passed on the 76ers meeting due to their star-heavy roster.
“Bailey, who continues sliding down the board in this scenario, doesn’t appear to have much interest in Utah and is viewed by most teams as a riskier bet,” ESPN’s Jeremy Woo wrote in a June 22 mock draft.
Jazz CEO Danny Ainge opted to take Bailey regardless of any rumors.
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“It just shows you, there’s only so much an agent can control in this process,” Givony said. “If an NBA team decides they’re going to take Ace Bailey, that’s exactly what happened.”
As the camera captured Bailey’s reaction after being selected, some on X commented that the freshman phenom did not seem the happiest.
“(A)ce bailey looks like hes about to cry after being drafted by the jazz 💔😭,” @WizardsMuse1 posted to X.
Wrote @Bullskickass: “Ace Bailey looks so sad being drafted to the Jazz.”
While there may have been hesitation, Givony believes the Jazz are a good fit for Bailey.
“This is a little bit of a stunner, but if you think about it, this is an outstanding place for Ace Bailey,” Givony said. “They have a wide-open wing situation, they have a huge need for a star in his mold, they have an outstanding coaching staff. I think Ace Bailey is going to recover from this very quickly and realize that he landed in an outstanding situation with Utah Jazz.”
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