Ace Bailey emerged as one of the more polarizing players at the top of the 2025 draft. After a shortened Summer League, Jazz head coach Will Hardy opened up on his impressions of Bailey and what he’ll be looking for this season from the potential-filled wing.
“For Ace, first and foremost, it’s going to be about building a routine. The NBA is a lot,” Hardy said, as reported by Andy Larson of the Salt Lake Tribune. “The number of appearances is far more than he used to. That’s practice, shootaround, games, but it’s going to be about sort of him finding his routine, because I think the routine saves you during the season, you don’t have to think that much.”
Larson notes that the young players who make up a majority of Utah’s roster have been practicing in Salt Lake City for large portions of the summer, and Hardy expects them to continue to do so for the next two weeks. After a brief Labor Day break, they will join more of the team, undergoing four workout sessions per week throughout September.
As far as the on-court skillet that Hardy is hoping to help Bailey develop, he has some thoughts, despite not getting a chance to see the No. 5 overall pick as much as he’d have liked in Las Vegas.
“I think Ace showed he was really active in Summer League. He’s a good cutter. He can play in off-ball screens,” Hardy said. “And then defensively, while his body is continuing to get stronger, it’s going to be about using his length, because I think that is a real strength of his right now. I think that’s how he can survive on the defensive end right now.”
Bailey only played two games during Summer League. In addition to his scoring potential, he showcased a good motor as a rebounder, which will likely help him carve out a role as he learns the intricacies of NBA defenses.