Ace Bailey Debuts with the Jazz: More Grunt Work Than Scoring Flashes
In his first game in a Utah Jazz uniform, Ace Bailey, the fifth overall draft pick, demonstrated more of his defensive work ethic than his scoring potential, which did not disappoint his new coaches. Bailey finished the game with eight points, shooting 3-of-13 from the field, in the Jazz’s 93-89 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in the start of the Salt Lake City Summer League. Although he didn’t stand out in scoring, Bailey demonstrated his worth in crucial moments, including a key defensive rebound in the final seconds of the game, securing the victory for the Jazz.After some doubts about his desire to play in Utah, the performance of 18-year-old Bailey demonstrated his commitment. He impressed his coaches with his defensive effort and his seven rebounds in 25 minutes of play.“It was great,” Bailey commented, highlighting a spectacular block as his best play. “Plus, we won, which makes it even better. It was fun.”
Ace Bailey
The Jazz intended to facilitate Bailey’s transition to the NBA with the help of Omar Cooper Jr., the son of Bailey’s advisor, as an unpaid guest coach during the summer league. However, this plan was canceled after the league expressed concerns. Bailey was enthusiastic about joining the Jazz, and the team has valued his work ethic during training and individual sessions. It is important to note that Bailey maintained his concentration even when he was on the bench in the final moments of the match. He cheered on his teammates from the bench, showing his commitment to the team. Utah selected Bailey, who averaged 17.6 points in his only season at Rutgers, despite not having workouts for the Jazz, as they believed he was the best player available and had star potential, especially as a scorer. However, he failed to get into an offensive rhythm in his summer league debut.“Not enough is said about that,” said Jazz coach Will Hardy, referring to Bailey’s ability to defend and rebound. “The offense will come. He’s learning a new system and meeting new people, and he’s worked hard in the last four days.”
Will Hardy
«These two weeks are basically an intensive course in the NBA, and when you come from the college level, especially as an 18-year-old kid, all those things that have nothing to do with scoring or shooting are much more important for establishing yourself on the court. Then, once you establish those things where you can help the team in a positive way without scoring, we can worry about your shot selection.»“Offensively, we can do a little better job of involving him,” said Scott Morrison, the Jazz assistant who is the head coach during the Salt Lake City Summer League. “The best thing about summer league is that the result doesn’t really matter. It’s more important that he has things to watch on video tomorrow morning.”
Scott Morrison
