‘Heard Rumbles with Shedeur Sanders’ – Ex-NBA Star Sends Stark Warning on Ace Bailey Draft Saga, Offers Golden Advice

Widely projected as one of the top 10 picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, Ace Bailey is one of the most gifted prospects this year. However, his cancellation of an official visit to the Philadelphia 76ers is already generating serious concern among insiders.

One such warning has come from former NBA veteran Matt Barnes, who addressed Bailey’s controversial pre-draft behavior on the “All The Smoke” podcast. Barnes referenced past cautionary tales by calling out the 18-year-old forward’s lack of team engagement. The former player also compared him to Deion Sanders’ son and Cleveland quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who suffered a massive NFL Draft slide in April.

“This is a very copycat weird sports leagues we play in you know…we were hearing rumbles with Shedeur Sanders,” Barnes said. “And we saw unfortunately what happened to him. He fell to the fifth round.”

Barnes delivered one final warning, saying:

“You have to tread lightly regarding the way you are moving and the information that’s being spread, whether that’s you or your representation.”

 

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The former Golden State Warriors star made the comments amid growing criticism over Bailey’s decision to skip pre-draft workouts. However, for a seasoned player who has seen the league closely, Barnes concluded with golden advice, rooted in hard-earned perspective.

“You have to tread lightly the way you are moving and the information that’s being spread, whether that’s you or your representation,” he said. “We just want to see you get drafted. You are a tremendous talent.”

The former Rutgers star, widely projected as a top-five pick, is the only U.S.-based prospect who declined meetings and on-court sessions with teams. The approach has raised red flags across front offices and media circles.

Ace Bailey’s Reaction to Pre-Draft Workout Cancellations Ahead of 2025 NBA Draft

Airius ‘Ace’ Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks, and was the only player in the Big Ten last season to rank in the top 10 in all three categories. Still, concerns have surrounded his availability and communication, which overshadow his production.

When asked by reporters on Tuesday why he skipped workouts, Bailey gave little explanation, saying:

“I’m just working on basketball, that’s all I’m focused on. I can only control what I can control, you can think what you think… I’m focused on basketball.”

The situation has drawn attention from multiple levels. After Bailey backed out of a workout with the 76ers, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said (via CBS Sports):

“He’s got great talent, great upside, but if you don’t want to be here, if you’re not dying to be here, I don’t want you to be here.”

As of now, Bailey remains a top-10 favorite, according to multiple platforms, and is highly expected to be selected by Washington at No. 6. Whether his talent outweighs the concerns will be answered tonight as the teams reveal their picks.

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