Many NBA fans were impressed with how Ace Bailey played against the Houston Rockets, comparing him to Paul George.
Ace Bailey was perhaps the most scrutinized rookie in the 2025 NBA Draft class. The former Rutgers standout stirred up controversy with his pre-draft strategy.
Bailey’s camp tried to manipulate his draft stock to ensure he landed in a big market, an approach that failed when the Utah Jazz surprisingly picked Bailey with the #5 overall pick.
Since then, Bailey has made the best of being in Utah, vowing to be the best player possible for them. And during the NBA Summer League, Bailey showed his potential.
But there were still questions about how he would fare against proper NBA opposition. Well, if his preseason outing against the Houston Rockets is anything to go by, Bailey will quickly become a star.
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty ImagesNBA fans wowed by Ace Bailey’s 25-point outing vs. Houston Rockets
Against the Houston Rockets, Ace Bailey put on a show, dropping 25 points while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out three dimes.
NBA fans were very impressed with Bailey’s heroics, with one fan noting, “He already looks like Prime Paul George.”
Another fan made a similar comparison, saying, “Looks like a better Cam Reddish. Has a Paul George ceiling.”
One fan praised the Utah Jazz’s approach, writing, “Man, if they continue to use him in the off-ball action to get him all this space, this is going to be special.”
While another NBA fan made a bold prediction, claiming, “If he finds any success at the rim, he is a superstar.”
One fan believes Bailey always had this in his back pocket, noting, “Absolutely no one should be surprised by this. He was so clearly the most talented player in the draft.”
While another fan warned the rest of the NBA, saying, “This kid is gonna be a problem.”
Utah Jazz might have found their next franchise star in Ace Bailey
Ace Bailey may not have wanted to land in Utah when he entered the NBA Draft pool. But now that he’s there, he’s going to deliver on a nightly level for them.
Expect Bailey to be the Jazz’s most exciting star next season, as he puts up solid numbers in his rookie campaign.
Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy had a plan for Ace when he got drafted. So far, that plan is being executed to perfection
Hardy watched Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum tapes to help create this plan. And if he keeps playing this way, Bailey might even reach the heights those two stars did.