How NBA Draft prospect Ace Bailey became an ace in the court of basketball
How NBA Draft prospect Ace Bailey became an ace in the court of basketball (Image Source: Getty Images)
Ace Bailey declared for the 2025 NBA Draft after making a name for himself with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. He was chosen as one of the five-star recruits and became one of the top players in the 2024 class, after a successful college campaign.
But did you know that the name he goes by is not his real name? Ace Bailey was actually born Airious Bailey, but how did he get that nickname that has stuck with him, as he prepares for one of the biggest nights of his professional career?
How did Ace Bailey get his ace nickname?
The NBA Draft Day is upon us, and like all the others,
Ace Bailey
is no doubt getting ready for a night that will be the beginning of his professional career in the league. But before we get to that, let's go back in time and find out how exactly he got his nickname - Ace.
Born Airious Bailey to college basketball players Ramika McGee of West Virginia University and Richard Bailey from Houston, Ace has strong ties to the game. He has been on and off the basketball court ever since he was a child, which no doubt was a big influence on him. He also had the talent for it, and mix it up with hard work and dedication, and you've got the perfect combo.
He recently revealed how he became Ace from Airious, and it's all thanks to his coach. Speaking to Swish Cultures, he said:
"Ace was a childhood name given to me by my league coach, shoutout to my coach. Been having that name ever since I was a kid, I just stuck with it, we just went by, Ace Ace Ace. So a lot of people don't even know my real name is Airious, so I tell people my real name is Ace, anyways. So I'll be like it's Ace."
He was an Ace since childhood, and the name stuck. Now, Ace Bailey is all set to join the NBA and prove that he really is an ace player, coming to show his mettle on the court with his performance.
Also Read:
"I can only control what I can control" — Former Scarlet Knights player Ace Bailey breaks silence on his pre-draft approach
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
21 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Who is Ace Bailey's girlfriend, Mariyah? Everything we know about the couple
Jun 26, 2025 05:52 AM IST Ace Bailey has found himself at the center of a drama ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft. The 18-year-old has set some clear boundaries, saying he does not wish to play for the Charlotte Hornets or the Utah Jazz, who have the 4th and the 5th pick, respectively. Who is Ace Bailey's girlfriend, Mariyah? (acebailey/Instagram) In an X post, NBA insider Evan Sidery said, 'Ace Bailey's camp has also let it be known they do not want to be drafted by the Hornets or Jazz' and that 'Bailey is trying to force his way to a preferred destination outside the top-five.' Bailey's draft drama escalated when he cancelled a scheduled workout with the Philadelphia 76ers. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey, 'Multiple league sources said Bailey's agent, Omar Cooper, wanted the Sixers to commit to him before his scheduled Friday workout. One league executive believes that Bailey, once a consensus top-three pick, probably will drop in the draft because of his agency's tactics. Bailey remains the only American-based draft prospect to not visit any teams for a workout. Another league executive believes that the agency wants Bailey to remain on the East Coast and play somewhere between Atlanta and New York.' Bailey now happens to be the only American-based prospect in the draft class who has not visited any teams for a workout. Amid the draft drama, there's growing public interest in Bailey's personal life, including who his girlfriend is. Who is Ace Bailey's girlfriend? According to USA Today, Bailey appears to be dating a woman named Mariyah, but the two have shared little about their love life on social media. Last year, Bailey uploaded an Instagram story, showing him and Mariyah wearing matching outfits. The two, donning grey hoodies and grey jeans, posed with a black Maserati in the background. Fans are now hoping to see Mariyah accompanying Bailey to the NBA Draft.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Florida welcomed me like family': Brad Marchand's controversial move to Florida Panthers leaves Boston Bruins fans heartbroken
'Florida welcomed me like family': Brad Marchand's controversial move to Florida Panthers leaves Boston Bruins fans heartbroken (Image via Getty) This one fans did not anticipate. NHL veteran Brad Marchand stunned the hockey world with a significant career change on June 24, 2025. Just before the playoffs, the Florida Panthers received long-time Boston Bruins star. Fans were incredulous about what came next. In just a few weeks, Marchand helped Florida lift the Stanley Cup, ending a title wait that had lasted over a decade. But how did it all happen? Brad Marchand traded to Florida Panthers and leads team to Stanley Cup win NHL sources confirmed on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, that Brad Marchand, 36, had formally gone from the Boston Bruins to the Florida Panthers. During a live press conference, both sides unveiled the agreement. This move surprised fans and experts alike, as Marchand had spent all 15 seasons with the Bruins and was their captain. Marchand joined the Panthers just as the NHL playoffs began. He immediately brought leadership, energy, and experience to the team. Many fans didn't expect much from Florida after their tough regular season, but Marchand helped change everything. In the playoffs, he scored five goals and had eight assists. Marchand helped the game-winning goal in overtime in Game 6 on June 22, 2025, held at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, as the Florida Panthers went on a terrific playoff run and faced the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final. Ending a 14-year dry, it was Florida's first Stanley Cup victory since 2011. Brad Marchand says winning with Florida was a dream he never saw coming Speaking with reporters from NHL Network and ESPN after the last game, Brad Marchand addressed his fresh club and the significant victory. "This was never in my plans, but it's one of the best moments of my life,' he said. 'I didn't think I'd leave Boston, but Florida welcomed me like family.' Marchand also said it felt good to help a team that hadn't won in so long. 'You could feel the hunger in the locker room. We wanted this for each other,' he added. The Florida Panthers celebrated with fans the next day, holding a parade in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Marchand was at the front, holding the Stanley Cup high. Also Read: Did Brad Marchand Just Confirm His Florida Panthers Return With A Joke About Sam Bennett? Fans online have called this one of the greatest late-season trades in hockey. Many praised Marchand for proving people wrong and showing he still has what it takes to win big. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Hindustan Times
37 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
NBA studying uptick of Achilles injuries
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday the league is studying a rash of recent Achilles tendon injuries, days after Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton became the latest player to be hobbled by such an injury in game seven of the NBA Finals. HT Image Silver, speaking to ESPN before the start of the NBA draft at the Brooklyn Nets' Barclays Center arena, said that there was no convincing evidence that the length of the NBA season was a factor, but that a range of causes are being studied. "We are looking at it," Silver said, "and in fact, we had already convened a panel of experts before Tyrese's most recent Achilles rupture. "So we had seven this year," he added. "We had zero last year under the exact same circumstances." He said the NFL had had a rash of Achilles injuries as well, and the purpose of convening the panel of experts "is to try to figure out what's going on." Haliburton was already playing with a sore calf when he was stricken in the title-deciding game seven against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who claimed their first title since moving to Oklahoma in 2008. The 25-year-old had surgery on Monday and is at risk of missing the entire 2025-26 campaign. Haliburton was the third player to suffer a torn Achilles in this post-season, after Boston's Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee's Damian Lillard. Critics point to the grueling 82-game regular season, but Silver said the most important thing was to try to find a pattern. "It's interesting, when we look back at the last 10 years the majority of the Achilles injuries have happened before the All-Star break, so it's not clear it's the number of games," he said. Silver said training players undertake in the off-season, and even stress on their bodies playing youth basketball before they ever even start their pro careers could be a factor. He suggested that Artificial Intelligence could eventually be a useful tool in pinpointing what needs to change. "This is one area where AI people are taking about how that's going to transform so many areas the ability with AI to ingest all video of every game a player has played in to see if you can detect there's some pattern that we didn't realize that leads to Achilles injury. "Whether it's associated with calf injuries we don't really know," he added. "But, look, we're taking it very seriously." bb/rcw This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
