An NBA preseason debut doesn’t signal future superstardom.
But it also doesn’t hurt to make a good first impression.
That’s what Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey did on Wednesday night.
His stats were incredible:
- 25 points
- 11-16 FG
- 6 rebounds
- 3 assists
- 2 steals
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Bailey was one of the more controversial possible selections in the 2025 NBA Draft lottery
On the one hand, he has always been regarded as a bucket getter and with incredible length.
On the other hand, Bailey was inefficient at Rutgers and the Scarlet Knights weren’t winners with him there.
The Jazz felt Bailey was worth the risk at the No. 5 overall pick. And if he reaches anything near his ceiling, he’ll wind up looking like a steal.
It’s still too early to make that determination, of course. Bailey will have ups and downs. He’ll have nights where the shots fall and nights where the shots very much don’t fall.
But all he can do, as a rookie and going beyond, is take things one night at a time. It’s a cliche, but it’s true.
Bailey can prove the doubters wrong, but it won’t happen all in one night. The best he can do is deliver, time and time again. That’ll create consistent believers in what Bailey is doing on the basketball court.
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