Ace Bailey stuns NBA world with secret warning that forced top teams to back off
Ace Bailey stuns NBA world with secret warning that forced top teams to back off (Image Source: Getty Images)
Ace Bailey, one of the top prospects, reportedly told certain teams not to pick him, even if they had a top-5 pick. His message was clear: if selected, he wouldn't show up. As a result, some big-name franchises passed on him.
What followed was unexpected, and it ended with the Utah Jazz making a bold move.
Ace Bailey told NBA teams not to pick him if they were in the top five
Reports from DraftExpress said that Ace Bailey, a top college prospect, told at least one team in the top five not to select him. He said he would not report if they did.
Bailey is a 19-year-old forward who played for Michigan State University.
Before the draft, his team told one top‑5 franchise directly not to choose him. This changed how some teams picked.
The Philadelphia 76ers (No. 3 pick) and the Charlotte Hornets (No. 4 pick) both passed on Bailey. Sources say this was because of the warning from his camp. They didn't want to risk picking someone who would not play for them.
Ace Bailey opens up after Utah Jazz pick him despite pre-draft uncertainty
Before the 2025 NBA Draft, reports said that Ace Bailey didn't want to land in Utah or Charlotte. The Charlotte Hornets had the No. 4 pick. The Utah Jazz were close behind at No. 5. Bailey and his camp reportedly had their eyes on the Washington Wizards.
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They held the No. 5 spot before a trade.
But things changed on draft night. When reporters asked Ace Bailey if he knew the Utah Jazz were serious about selecting him, he said, 'I had no idea.' Bailey added, 'I can control what I can control. They feel how they feel. But my team and I, I'm focusing on basketball and them doing what they're doing, so it happens.'
Bailey has been called the most talked-about name in this class. Some teams saw risk.
Others saw star potential. The Utah Jazz made the bold move. They wanted talent and offensive strength, and they believe Bailey is that player.
Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith spoke about the pick on The Pat McAfee Show the next morning. He said, 'I think our philosophy in where we're at as a team, is we want to take the best player on the board and we love Ace Bailey.'
Smith also shared his first impressions after talking to Bailey. 'All I saw was a kid who was humble, he was grateful, he was excited to begin the NBA. I think that's all you can ask for from our standpoint,' he said.
Now all eyes are on Utah. The Jazz took a chance, and Ace Bailey's future in the league starts now.
Also Read:
NBA Draft 2025: Complete list of picks from Round 1- Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, and more
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
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