Ace Bailey has emerged as a full-time starter for the Utah Jazz, and the rookie recently earned praise from coach Will Hardy for his playing style and mindset on the court.
Bailey is averaging 12.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 35.4% from 3-point range in 60 appearances, including 49 starts. He is sixth in scoring among rookies and one of eight first-year players to record 30 points in a game this season.
Advertisement
The 19-year-old established himself as a top-five pick out of Rutgers because of his overall skill set, size and versatility on both ends of the court. But it has been a few other key traits that have stood out, perhaps most of all, to Hardy this season.
Ace is incredibly unselfish. For somebody that was as highly touted as he was coming out of high school and coming into the draft, he doesn’t carry himself in a way where he thinks that he is not getting enough. Ace is one of the guys and is a really talented player. … The way that he carries himself and interacts with his teammates in the locker room, on the bus, on the plane, in team meetings and then on the court, he just wants to play good basketball.
Bailey has started the last 49 of the past 51 games for the Jazz, providing Hardy & Co. with strong production in that role. The team has been pleased with the energy and effort he brings, while also stuffing the stat sheet on a nightly basis.
The 6-foot-8 forward on March 5 recorded a career-high 32 points in a win over the Washington Wizards, which helped the Jazz snap a seven-game losing streak at the time. He became the youngest player in franchise history to score 30 points (19 years, 204 days).
Advertisement
Bailey has been one of the top rookies this season and appears to have a bright future ahead. The team has been impressed with his development and approach to the game, and is eager to watch his continued growth this season and beyond.
“I think his disposition, in general, is what has allowed him to play with a lot of different groups,” Hardy said. “It makes it really easy to coach Ace because we get to focus on improving and on the things that he can control. We don’t have to spend a lot of time discussing with the Ace the things that are outside of his control and why he shouldn’t worry about them.”
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Jazz news: Will Hardy commends rookie Ace Bailey’s unselfishness
