Former Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Ace Bailey is already ramping up with the Utah Jazz just as he landed in the city. Bailey was taken by coach Will Hardy’s team in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday, June 25, despite all the speculations circulating that the team was not a destination that the 18-year-old had in mind.
The @utahjazz on Instagram uploaded photos of Bailey landing in the city on Saturday, June 28. Just hours later, the team posted another Instagram upload, this time showing that Bailey immediately started working out in the Jazz practice facility just moments after he landed.
“he wasn’t kidding when he said he was ‘ready to get to work’ #TakeNote,” they captioned the post.
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Utah Jazz fans and spectators seemingly have their dreams for the team to go overboard over Bailey playing out his rookie campaign there. They poured in their thoughts in the comments section.
“This kid’s gonna save us,” one fan said.
“Utah gon’ love you if you work like you say you do!!,” another fan pointed out with emojis.
“Bro ’boutta have a Donovan Mitchell type rookie season,” another user commented mentioning All-Star Donovan Mitchell.
“Literally flies here and goes straight to the gym to put up shots, I love this kid,” a fan wrote.
Several other users in the comment section are then calling on the league to move past Bailey and the uncertainties regarding his draft selection.
“I wasn’t happy about the pick because it was reported that he didn’t want to be here. But, I can’t tell you how much I’m hoping this kid learns to love Utah and this fan base,” one fan posted.
“He’s young, guys, he will be okay. It wasn’t his pick but it will be a blessing in disguise, he just don’t know it yet. Please support him and make him feel at ease,” another fan explained.
“Man! I can’t wait to see what team he plays for after the Jazz develop him!,” a user shared.
In his lone year of collegiate hoops with coach Steve Pikiell’s squad, Bailey topped the team in rebounds and blocks averages, showcasing his two-way skillset, with 7.2 and 1.3, respectively, to go along with 17.6 points, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals a game.
Despite projections of being the third overall pick, Ace Bailey was selected fifth by the Utah Jazz
Per ESPN’s mock before this year’s NBA Draft, Ace Bailey was originally supposed be selected with the third overall pick in the first round by coach Nick Nurse’s Philadelphia 76ers, joining the likes of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. Instead, Bailey fell into the Jazz at No. 5 and will be inserted into a lineup that includes players such as Lauri Markkanen, Isaiah Collier, Walker Kessler, and Jordan Clarkson.
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