Rutgers freshman forward Ace Bailey, projected to be a top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is going through what many a player has at this stage of their basketball journey.<\/p>\n
Last year, it was Alex Sarr<\/a>. The draft prior, it was Brandon Miller<\/a>. Before that, it was Paolo Banchero<\/a>. Without going all the way down the rabbit hole, suffice it to say that Bailey\u2019s draft stock is in a bear market. Really, it\u2019s more like a bear trap, considering that he may be stuck in this position.<\/p>\n Bailey\u2019s recent decision to build walls rather than bridges<\/a> wasn\u2019t met well.<\/p>\n How dare he attempt to sway his future? Who does he think he is, wanting to be a star? In a vacuum, \u00a0those rigid and unspoken rules sound ridiculous for any prospect. For one such as Bailey, who has multiple traits that speak to his gold-leaf ceiling.<\/p>\n Yet, the overreactions \u2014the overreaching \u2014reflect the deeper issue, which is that he\u2019s a complex player to evaluate.<\/p>\n Well, not really.<\/p>\n Went on the Dunc’d On podcast to talk about why Ace Bailey is my No. 3 prospect in the draft, why I’m so bullish on his upside, what I’ve seen from him over the years, and why he’s so polarizing with some NBA executives. pic.twitter.com\/KPFaps1ARu<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n2025 NBA Draft: The Curious Case Of Ace Bailey<\/h2>\n
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