The 2025 NBA Draft has come and gone, but the drama didn’t end with the picks. Ace Bailey has been at the center of much of the controversy, starting with his refusal to work out for any teams during the pre-draft process.
“Bailey’s predraft workout strategy has perplexed some observers, as he has yet to conduct a single known workout to date, having declined invitations from several teams within his draft range. Sources say Bailey’s camp has informed interested teams that they believe he is a top-3 player in the draft, but also seeks a clear pathway to stardom, perhaps feeling comfortable that a team will trade up to get him at Nos. 3 or 4, should he drop,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony wrote.
The situation escalated when Bailey’s representatives told teams picking in the top five that if Bailey was selected by them, he wouldn’t report.
“Leading up to the NBA draft, Ace Bailey’s representatives informed a team drafting inside the top five they didn’t want that team to select the Rutgers wing, and that he wouldn’t report if they did, sources told ESPN,” Givony and Tim Bontemps wrote.
Bailey was ultimately picked fifth overall, raising many questions about whether he will show up. Some believe he could be setting a new trend. However, this isn’t the first time something like this has happened — NBA legend Stephen Curry’s father once tried a similar stunt.
“Ace Bailey story reminds me about Stephen Curry‘s father and agent asking the Warriors not to draft him in 2009 with the seventh pick so he could go to the Knicks with the next pick. Steph also didn’t workout for Warriors. Undeterred Warriors GM Larry Riley drafted Steph anyway,” ESPN’s Marc J. Spears wrote.
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Curry turned out just fine, playing for the Warriors and becoming an NBA Champion. Bailey would be wise to follow Curry’s lead and just accept his situation because he’ll never know what might happen unless he reports to Utah.
