Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Ace Bailey stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the fifth pick by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Ace Bailey never doubted where his basketball journey would lead. As a nine-year-old, he already saw himself in the NBA and winning big. That early confidence remained captured in a 2016 video, now resurfacing after the Utah Jazz selected him with the No.

Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey caught a lot of flack for his draft strategy leading up to the June 25 night. He canceled a workout with the Philadelphia 76ers --who held the No. 3 pick--as well as workouts with every other team who had an interest in the Rutgers star.