Ace Bailey looked miserable after the Utah Jazz drafted him No. 5 overall and the internet had a field day
Last night in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz basically said screw it and took the biggest question mark on the board in Rutgers forward Ace Bailey at No. 5 overall.
It was a bold swing from a franchise that just went 17-65 and is in full rebuild mode. The pick stunned most of the league, and apparently even Bailey himself. “I had no idea,” he said post-draft, looking like a man who just got drafted into the Witness Protection Program.
Ace Bailey looked thrilled to be drafted by Utah…lol
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported that Utah wasn’t one of Bailey’s preferred landing spots. So either the Jazz didn’t get the memo, or they just didn’t care. Utah president Austin Ainge told ESPN: “We really like him as a player and a fit in our program.”
Bold words for a kid who didn’t work out for a single team. That’s not an exaggeration. Bailey was the only American prospect in this year’s class who didn’t do any pre-draft workouts. The vibe around the league was that his camp had a specific destination in mind. It was believed that Washington would have taken him at No. 6 and Bailey’s camp was actively steering him there.
Instead, he’s headed to Salt Lake City, and will join a roster that has nothing but playing time and wide-open shots to offer.
The Internet Had A Field Day With Ace Bailey Going To Utah
Ace Bailey was a Top-3 guy for most of the year on everyone’s big board. He’s long, athletic, bouncy, and can score. The red flags piled up quickly over the past month.
No workouts. A mystery agent who happens to be Sharife Cooper’s dad. Reports of seeking a “promise” from a specific team. A weird last-minute cancellation on the Sixers that rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.
Can’t help but think the 76ers dodged a bullet with Ace Bailey
If you’re Philly, you dodged one. If you’re Utah, you’re banking on your infrastructure to fix what could either be misunderstood talent… or a complete bust.
At the very least, Ace Bailey has a clear path to 30 minutes a night on a bad team. There’s no pressure, no real expectations.
He gets to grow into the role and develop in peace. He’ll be coached by a guy players genuinely like, and he’ll have a front office that took a risk because they believe in the upside.
But that face he made when his name was called is still going to live in NBA Draft meme history.
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