Ace Bailey is expected to be drafted third overall in the NBA Draft, although there are plenty of concerns surrounding him.
The 2025 NBA Draft is loaded with high-level talent, and Rutgers University, never known for producing NBA talent, is expected to boast the top two picks in the Draft.
After Cooper Flagg is presumably selected first overall, Dylan Harper is expected to be drafted by the San Antonio Spurs, and Ace Bailey will likely go third to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Bailey is easily the best scorer in the draft, posting 17.6 points per game on 46% shooting from the floor in his lone NCAA season.
However, he is not without flaws. A solid defender, his handle, athleticism, and, most importantly, shot selection are questionable, although it hasn’t stopped him from having supreme confidence in himself.
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty ImagesAce Bailey reveals NBA comparisons
In college, Bailey broke out as a tough-shot taker and maker. While his selection and tunnel vision are a major concern, he thinks his skillset will translate to the NBA.
At the Draft Combine, he revealed to reporters during his media availability whom he models his game after.
“KD, Paul George, and Jayson Tatum,” he listed. “I mean, Paul George and Jayson Tatum, their creation for them to get a shot off it’s just unbelievable. I feel like I see myself doing the same thing. Then KD, midpost, me and him, one, two dribbles or less, straight buckets.”
All three of those players are underrated defenders, much like Bailey, and are three of the most well-rounded offensive players in the league. As oversized wings, like Bailey, they don’t need to create much space to rise up over a defender.
Bailey is seen as a high-level project player, who will take several seasons to hit his stride, but if he finds his footing, he should be a high-level scorer alongside Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Joel Embiid, and George on the Sixers.
Bailey addresses his biggest pre-draft concern
In college, Bailey could simply use his 6-foot-10 frame to rise over smaller defenders and hit shots, even with a man in his face. Better NBA defenders won’t let him get clean looks on questionable shots, although he isn’t worried.
“The shots I work on and the workouts are shots I do in the game,” he countered. “So, if it might be a bad shot to you, but you’re not going to work on it. I work on it. So, that’s how I look at it.”
Bailey, to his credit, seems to know that he doesn’t have an elite handle or first step to create space, so rather than work on getting better looks and revamping his entire game, he’s getting used to the idea of just making tough shots.
It seems too simple to work, although superstars like Stephen Curry, who, with the ball in his hands, never excelled at creating much space, simply learned to shoot with a hand in his face.
Bailey has half a foot on Curry, so if he can rise up in traffic, it will be nearly impossible to get in his way.