There’s a fair perception among NBA analysts and fans that the 2024 draft class is the least stacked in recent years, in terms of talent. It is said that outside the top five in that class, a lot of the players might not make the first round in another year.
Zaccharie Risacher went number one overall to the Atlanta Hawks, and there have been talks about where he would land if he fell into another class.
The 2025 class, on the other hand, is immensely loaded with exciting talent. While it’s obvious that headliner Cooper Flagg could have easily gone overall number one in the last few drafts, how would Rutgers G Ace Bailey have done?
Would Ace Bailey Be the First Overall Pick in the 2024 NBA Draft?
Ace Bailey is one of the top prospects in this year’s draft class and is projected to be a top-three pick alongside his Rutgers teammate, Dylan Harper. Bailey is such a talented player that he was a contender for the number one pick during his high school days.
On the other hand, Zaccharie Risacher was highly anticipated after NBA scouts expressed a lot of excitement for the player, particularly regarding his perimeter shooting and defense. But there are questions about whether he would have been number one in another class.
Some Reddit users shared their thoughts on the topic, and the majority of them believe Ace Bailey would have been picked over Zaccharie Risacher if they were in the same class.
Where would Ace Bailey go in last year’s draft?
byu/fultzacl inNBA_Draft
“He would go 1 definitely,” one user commented.
“Probably first based on sheer potential,” another replied.
This is not to diminish Risacher’s talent and abilities, but the consensus is that Bailey is just the superior talent.
However, it is yet to be seen how that translates into their NBA careers. Risacher has had a great first season of the NBA, recording a career-high 38 points in a Hawks Win over the Brooklyn Nets. The French forward also made the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Bailey, meanwhile, is currently projected to land in Philadelphia with the 76ers with the number three pick.
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