Former Rutgers guard Ace Bailey is getting slammed for his actions ahead of the 2025 NBA draft, canceling his private practice session with the team that was supposed to draft him at No. 3, Philadelphia, and refusing to talk to every single team. This decision was a controversial one, which saw him slide from being the probable No. 3 pick to eventually getting picked No. 5 overall by the Utah Jazz.
His agent, Omar Cooper, has since declined to comment on his talent’s decline in the draft, telling Draft Express that there was nothing uncommon about Ace Bailey’s pre-draft process of not talking to any team at all.
Ace Bailey’s agent declined to comment on his future in Utah. 👀
(via @DraftExpress)pic.twitter.com/3j14Vzs8yY
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 27, 2025
This unprofessionalism in handling his pre-draft process was criticized by a lot of analysts and former NBA players. Fans have also been slamming the former Rutgers star as well.
“Agent might’ve ruined his career tbh,” one fan said regarding his agent, Omar Cooper.
Agent might’ve ruined his career tbh
— Baby Yeshu’a (@SCRIZZLLEE) June 27, 2025
“Ace Bailey should get kicked out of the league for being so ungrateful. He has to make it before he picks where he plays,” said another person.
“I don’t like what he’s doing but Utah was probably told by his people he wouldn’t show up if they drafted him. When you hear that and choose to ignore it then I don’t feel sorry for you because they knew it was going to be a mess and were pre-warned it would be.” another person pointed out.
There have been reports of Bailey telling Utah that he might not show up for practice at all, and some fans are already slamming him over this, while others remained hopeful.
“Ace Bailey is great and can be an even better player in the NBA. Utah is not the most beautiful place to start your NBA career, but I am sure he will make the most of it. Really hoping he does not go completely on the opposite which is to not report to the team. That would be nuts but I doubt he will do that,” one fan noted.
“That boi better sign that contract, get that money, and worry about playing somewhere else later in his career. Don’t f*ck up the money because what team you on. These players with these NIL deals are getting too big headed when they head to NBA,” another fan said.
Ace Bailey gets stern warning from Draymond Green
Ace Bailey is not just souring on fans and former players, but current NBA players as well. One of them is Draymond Green, who is known for speaking his mind.
“I don’t necessarily think it hurt. It didn’t hurt. You went [fifth], whoop-de-f—ing-do. It didn’t hurt that,” Green said on his podcast. “But you’re walking into the NBA with a strike, and I think that’s what’s most important to understand. You’re walking in with a question mark on character. You’re walking in with a question mark on work ethic. You’re walking in with a question mark on your camp. … My thing to him and his camp would be, understand where you are.”
He also challenged Bailey to be a great rookie or else the league will move on from him and the drama he is bringing.
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