Ace Bailey, the fifth overall pick in last week’s NBA Draft, stole the show with an impressive debut. He was a big part of the Utah Jazz’s 93-89 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite struggling with his shooting, Bailey showcased his hustle and defensive prowess, leaving a positive impression on coaches and fans alike.
In her first 25 minutes of play, Bailey had 8 points on 3-of-13 shooting. With only four seconds left in regulation, he pulled down an essential finish with the newest protective gulp. While not particularly pretty, this play was instrumental in sealing the Jazz’s win. He was a monster on the boards, collecting 7 rebounds, many of them snatched from the air in traffic on contested plays.
Bailey’s difficulty in finding his offensive rhythm throughout the game showed. As a consequence of this, he forced a number of bad shots. His contributions went beyond the score sheet. Coaches raved about his incessant motor on the defensive end. They were impressed by his focus, mentally engaged the entire time despite spending much of the game’s final moments on the bench.
Not only that but the Utah Jazz drafted Bailey even after he completely refused to work out for the Jazz pre-draft. They thought he was the BPA and understood how special of a scoring star Donovan could become. Bailey showed how explosive of a scorer he is during his one season at Rutgers, where he averaged 17.6 points per game.
Shortly after arriving in Utah this past weekend, Bailey shared his enthusiasm about joining the club.
“I’m just blessed to be in the position I am,” – Ace Bailey
Jazz head coach Will Hardy had high words for Bailey’s performance and mentioned non-scoring things being crucial to the 23-year old’s growth.
“Man, it was great. We won, too, so that made it a plus. It was fun.” – Ace Bailey
Hardy further added that establishing a positive presence on the court would allow Bailey to refine his shot selection later.
“This two weeks is basically a crash course in the NBA, and when you’re coming from the college level especially as an 18-year-old kid, all those things that have nothing to do with scoring or shooting are way more important to establish to get on the court,” – Will Hardy
Bailey’s brute strength and quickness are evident and his teammates and coaches have taken notice. Hardy had praised Phillips on his build, and “heavy hands,” as well as his capacity to play a transformative role in the locker room.
“All that stuff isn’t talked about enough,” – Will Hardy
The Jazz will certainly be hoping to use their stellar summer league showing as a launching point as we head toward the regular season. Though perhaps unpolished in moments, Bailey’s first professional appearance is a promising sign of what he could become as he further acclimates to the pro game.
“He’s an NBA body and athlete. He’s a great teammate, too. I’ve had nothing but positive reviews from all the coaches and his teammates this first week,” – Will Hardy
The Jazz will look to build on their summer league performance as they prepare for upcoming games. Bailey’s debut offers a glimpse into his potential development as he continues to adjust to the professional level.
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