{"id":26790,"date":"2025-07-21T19:15:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T19:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/26790\/"},"modified":"2025-07-21T19:15:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T19:15:09","slug":"paul-george-takes-u-turn-on-ace-bailey-remark-amid-hall-of-famer-comparison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/26790\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul George Takes U-Turn on Ace Bailey Remark Amid Hall of Famer Comparison"},"content":{"rendered":"

Few college stars generated as much buzz in 2025 as Ace Bailey. The 6\u20198\u201d forward lit up the court in his lone college session with an average of 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, earning top-three draft buzz for months. So when he slid to No. 5, where the Utah Jazz scooped him up, it stunned just about everyone. The drop didn\u2019t sit well with him, or his camp, who reportedly hoped for a franchise ready to hand him the reins early. Still, fans expected him to show up proud in Salt Lake\u2014but what followed was even more surprising.<\/p>\n

While fellow rookie Walter Clayton Jr. quickly landed in Utah and got to work, Bailey was nowhere in sight. His absence stirred talk. This pick meant a lot to the Jazz, and fans were counting on Bailey to step up as critics lined up. Ahead of the draft, Paul George too didn\u2019t hold back. On Podcast P, he said, \u201cYou\u2019re not in a position to be making those demands.\u201d\u00a0George pointed to Bailey\u2019s pre-draft strategy, which reportedly included skipping workouts unless guarantees were made. \u201cI can\u2019t get mad if my stock drops,\u201d he added, clearly frustrated with how the 18-year-old handled things. But in a recent episode of Podcast P, George surprised everyone with a softer tone.<\/p>\n

Talking with Isaiah Hartenstein, he admitted, \u201cI wanna kinda retract, right, what I said on the situation.\u201d He continued, \u201cEverybody has their own path, however way you wanna trailblaze, that\u2019s on you.\u201d It was a complete shift from his earlier frustration. George acknowledged that Bailey\u2019s method, though risky, still got him to a good place. He added, \u201cHe\u2019s still in a great situation, he still gets to showcase what he could do\u2026 his second game, he went crazy, showed his potential, the flash of it.\u201d It seemed George began to respect Bailey\u2019s approach. So, what changed Paul\u2019s mind?<\/p>\n

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Maybe it was Bailey\u2019s standout second Summer League game, where he finally \u201cwent crazy.\u201d Or maybe George saw himself in Bailey: a young talent trying to control his story. Interestingly, Isaiah had nothing to say on the situation when asked. He simply revealed that he knew nothing about the situation. Although he did have one advice<\/a>: \u201cI think you have to have right people around you, um, that guide you, and those, those \u2014 or maybe he didn\u2019t have the right people to guide him in those instances.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Either way, George\u2019s public reversal reflects something bigger. It\u2019s not just about one pick or one prospect. It\u2019s about understanding that not every path to greatness looks the same. And Bailey, whether loved or doubted, is busy proving that every step of the way.<\/p>\n

Dwyane Wade defends the pick as Utah bets on Ace Bailey\u2019s Melo-like potential<\/p>\n

As Paul George<\/a> softened his stance, another voice has entered the conversation, this time, a Hall of Famer. On Dwyane Wade<\/a>\u2019s YouTube channel, the former NBA star gave his take on the Jazz picking Bailey<\/a>. His view? Utah had no choice. \u201cGetting a young guy like Ace Bailey, the talent that he has, you cannot pass him up, y\u2019all. Like, there\u2019s no way.\u201d Wade acknowledged the rumors surrounding Bailey\u2019s preferences but made one thing clear: talent speaks louder than speculation when it comes to draft night.<\/p>\n

Wade praised Bailey\u2019s offensive upside, even comparing him to one of the game\u2019s greatest scorers. \u201cHe\u2019s just one of those Melo-type of score-type of players, right? And so you had to get him.\u201d That comparison alone raised eyebrows, especially since Bailey had only just entered the league. Wade\u2019s words offered validation not only for Bailey\u2019s potential but also for the Utah Jazz<\/a> front office\u2019s gamble. He added, \u201cI thought Danny, and the staff did an amazing job of grabbing the young fella.\u201d It wasn\u2019t just about Bailey\u2019s game, though.<\/p>\n

Wade also cleared the air about how things unfolded behind the scenes. \u201cWe all know what we heard from a media standpoint, but ultimately, the young man and his family made their way down to Utah, and he seemed excited to be there.\u201d That part matters. While public perception doubted Bailey\u2019s fit in Utah, Wade\u2019s words painted a different picture.<\/p>\n

The risk Utah took is starting to look more like a calculated bet. Wade\u2019s support solidifies what many are beginning to see: that Bailey\u2019s value was worth the uncertainty. \u201cHe just he\u2019s just one of those Melo-type of score-type of players, right?\u201d He drew a comparison with the fellow Hall of Famer! If Wade is right, then what once looked like a risk might just be one of the smartest moves in the draft.<\/p>\n

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