The NBA Draft has officially ended its first round and some selections were obvious, like Cooper Flagg going first to the Dallas Mavericks. Others, like Ace Bailey being selected fifth by the Utah Jazz, were not.
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Related: 2025 NBA Draft Lottery Recap: Flagg Lands In Dallas
Bailey chose not to work out for any team before the NBA Draft. This decision was criticized by Paul George.
“If I’m Ace Bailey, I can’t get mad if my stock drops,” George said. “He’s canceled all workouts. He hasn’t worked out for any team… Ace Bailey is not in a position to be making those demands. Make it to the league first… That’s a kid that’s been paid in college, bro, ‘I got money.’
“I don’t care. I will tell you where I want to go.’ This is a business. If I’m gonna put my money behind you, I need to know that you’re gonna represent us well.”
After the Jazz selected him, Bailey looked both stunned and a bit upset. Speculation immediately followed about Bailey’s mindset heading to Utah.
Bailey spoke about this selection and claimed he’s happy, even though he’s going to the Jazz.
“It’s just a blessing. The little kid in me is smiling hard right now because the hard work, the sacrifice, the blood, the sweat, the tears, not just for me, but for everyone, went into this. So the little kid in me is just smiling at me right now.”
Ace Bailey says he had “no idea” Jazz were going to draft him 5th overall
He declined to workout for them during the pre-draft process ????
(via @JakeLFischer) pic.twitter.com/8oNpZ1oBl7
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 26, 2025
Bailey went on to discuss how he can’t control who selects him.
“I can control what I can control. They feel how they feel. But my team and me, me focusing on basketball and they’re doing what they’re doing, so it happens.”
"I can control what I can control. They feel how they feel. But my team and me, me focusing on basketball and them doing what they're doing, so it happens."
Ace Bailey speaks on going to Utah at the 5th pick in the draft ????
pic.twitter.com/hvtEbmkrpW— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 26, 2025
Bailey was the best available player at the time, so you can’t fault the Jazz for selecting him. We will all have to sit back and watch how this saga will unfold.
