SALT LAKE CITY – After losing a franchise-worst 65 games last season, the Utah Jazz were rewarded with the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, which they used to select Rutgers wing Ace Bailey.

Through no fault of his own, Bailey now bears the burden of justifying not only the Jazz’s decision to draft him with a top-five pick, but the season’s worth of losing it took to have the opportunity to select him.

Related: Big Dunk Turned Keyonte George Into AJ Dybantsa Believer

What Does Will Hardy Want To See From Ace Bailey?

Though Bailey will be inextricably linked to pain endured during the 2024-25 campaign, head coach Will Hardy doesn’t want the 19-year-old to try to validate the Jazz’s decision-making on his own.

“My true feeling on him right now, and this would be to him and to

See Full Page