US EditionNBA Draft: A Look at the Prospects at No. 5 for the Utah Jazz
SALT LAKE COUNTY, UTAH, JUN 25 – Ace Bailey joins a rebuilding Utah Jazz team after averaging 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds at Rutgers, becoming the program's second-highest NBA draft pick.
- On June 25, 2025, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the Utah Jazz chose Rutgers’ 6-foot-8 forward Ace Bailey as the fifth pick in the first round of the NBA Draft.
- Bailey’s selection came amid concerns about his limited engagement in pre-draft sessions and doubts regarding his maturity and decision-making during evaluations.
- Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and shot 46 percent in 30 starts as a Rutgers freshman, showcasing versatile scoring and a 7-foot wingspan despite his team's 15-17 record.
- ESPN analyst Jay Bilas described Bailey as a player with substantial upside who carries somewhat greater risk, highlighting his exceptional ability to make highly challenging NBA-level shots—a skill also recognized by his peers in the league.
- The Jazz’s choice implies a bet on Bailey’s upside and positional versatility, suggesting he could become a key franchise player if his potential is fully developed.
32 Articles
32 Articles
After All That, Ace Bailey Ends Up In Utah
The run-up to every NBA Draft has a pleasant, familiar rhythm. Some prospects distinguish themselves in workouts, while some leap up or crash down draft boards after their wingspans and standing reaches are measured. People deploy some of the most fluorescent comparative language you will ever see. Every year, one or two mysterious prospects—Shaedon Sharpe a few years ago, Cedric Coward this year—will vault from the fringes into the lottery desp…
Jazz Make Decision On Ace Bailey After Drafting Him At No. 5
The 5 Craziest Trades In NBA History (2:14) The Utah Jazz shocked plenty of fans Wednesday when they selected Ace Bailey with the No. 5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.Bailey admit he had "no idea" the Jazz were interested in drafting him. According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, the talented forward from Rutgers didn't have Utah as one of his preferred destinations. Some fans questioned Bailey's reaction to being drafted by the Jazz. He didn't exactly h…
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