Ace Bailey is no average NBA prospect. He is a 6’7″ forward with a 7-foot wingspan. And no doubt, he is a treasured Rutgers star. Despite the promising journey, Bailey has had a complicated few months.
Once hyped as the likely No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Bailey now finds himself slightly behind his own college teammate Dylan Harper in the pecking order. But his name is still expected to be called between picks No. 3 and No. 6. Bailey’s upside is, of course, creating some buzz. And none other than NBA All-Star Paul George is buying into it in a big way.
Paul George All In on Ace Bailey: “Tremendous Talent” Set To Shake Up the League
There is no doubt that George knows a thing or two about two-way wings with big upside. And that’s exactly why when George speaks, the world listens. On a recent episode of “Podcast P with Paul George,” the Philadelphia 76er went on to talk about Bailey and gave him a barrage of praises.
“I think he has big-time potential. He has big-time talent,” George said. “He can score from any spot on the floor… shoot over top of defenses… isolation game, mismatches, pick and roll — he does it all.” George even went as far as to say that if Cooper Flagg didn’t exist, “Ace Bailey would have been an even bigger name” in this year’s class.
Ace Bailey’s game has PG excited for his future 🤝
“He has big-time talent… I love his upside.” pic.twitter.com/weKBjOHAYP
— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) May 16, 2025
The sentiment from George is quite similar to what the draft scouts have been wrestling with all year. Bailey might not be the most consistent in his class, but he is a polarizing presence. His stats at Rutgers don’t pop off the page, but his shot-making certainly does.
According to Synergy, Bailey hit 48.1% of his guarded jumpers this past season. That’s a great stat considering the fact that most players struggle with contested looks. Bailey’s unguarded percentage was lower and stood at 30.3%. That shows that he thrives in rhythm and not necessarily in structure. But that’s not what gives him the edge.
Bailey is brilliant when it comes to chaotic scoring. He has even drawn comparisons to Michael Porter Jr., but George seems to think Bailey brings even more to the table.
“He can catch and shoot. He can defend… chase-down blocks, keeping guys in front of him. I love his upside, man. I think he’s going to be huge in the league,” said George.
But all is not going to be easy for Bailey.
During the NBA Combine, Bailey’s stock was hit a little. He was listed as 6’10” in college but measured in at 6’7” without shoes. That is a big drop. But with a 7-foot wingspan and an 8’11” standing reach, he still has the tools to match up against NBA wings.
Additionally, the scouts have been intrigued by his impact on both ends of the floor rather than his barefoot height.
Where Bailey lands will likely define how quickly he makes an impact. The 76ers, holding the No. 3 pick, might be the perfect home. And the benefit with the 76ers is that Bailey won’t have to carry the heavy load immediately.
The team, after all, has names like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. So it gives Bailey time to develop his pace. But George seems to think that Bailey might not need the time.
As George himself puts it, “He’s definitely going to come into the league, and people think it might take him a minute based on his skill set, but I think he’s going to come into the league and make noise right away.” That early impact might hinge on how much freedom Bailey is given.
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From the 76ers to the Jazz at No. 5, there are several teams that could benefit from Bailey’s shot creation and positional versatility. The Hornets might not be the best fit on paper, but if they believe in his long-term potential, they could make it work.
In George’s eyes, though, it’s not about the fit. It is about the kind of player Bailey is.
As George sees it, “He can shoot over top of defenses. He can take advantage of mismatches. He can handle the ball in pick and rolls. He can catch and shoot. He can defend. I’ve seen him play elite defense on chase-down blocks, running guys off threes, defending, keeping guys in front of him. I think he just has tremendous talent.”
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