Paul George blasts Ace Bailey over NBA draft drama: ‘Make it to the league first'
The 76ers star offered up a warning to the NBA prospect after Bailey reportedly canceled a workout with Philadelphia ahead of Wednesday night's draft in Brooklyn.
'If I'm Ace Bailey,' George said on his 'Podcast P' released Tuesday, 'I can't get mad if my stock drops.'
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Ace Bailey #21 takes part in the Pro Lane Drill during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine.
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Bailey, long believed to be a top-three pick in the 2025 NBA Draft with a combination of size, athleticism, and scoring ability, has seen his stock fall during a curious pre-draft process.
There have been reports of the one-and-done Rutgers guard having bad interviews with teams and cancelling all his pre-draft workouts with a belief that he may be trying to steer himself to specific locales that could offer him a fast track to stardom.
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'He's canceled all workouts,' George said. 'Like he hasn't worked out for any team. So, I think they made a big deal cause we were scheduled to work him out and he canceled the day of. But he hasn't worked out for any team. But, you're not in a position to be making those demands. Make it to the league first. It's for sure the people around him. I don't know whose representing him, but I don't think they're going about it the right way.'
Bailey, 18, defended his process at pre-draft media availability on Tuesday.
Pau George on his podcast talking about Ace Bailey
@PodcastPShow/X
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'I'm focused on basketball, just being better, myself as a person and on the court,' he said. 'How you think is how you think, but I can only control what I can control.'
If Bailey does fall out of the top three, he'll cost himself some serious cash: the pay scale for the No. 3 pick is approximately $30 million over a three-year contract, around $26 million at four continues to falling with the No. 10 pick getting in the neighborhood of $15.5 million.
It will all make for fascinating TV when the draft kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC
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