The long-awaited moment finally arrived for several franchises looking to shape their future — the NBA Draft — and it didn’t disappoint. Among the night’s most talked-about moments was the reaction of Ace Bailey, who was taken at No. 5 by the Utah Jazz, shortly after his Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper went No. 2 overall to the San Antonio Spurs.
Bailey wasn’t the only Scarlet Knight to make the leap to the NBA on Wednesday. The Spurs selected Harper with the second pick, adding him to a promising backcourt alongside Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox. While Harper celebrated the milestone, he also used his appearance on 7PM in Brooklyn on Thursday to address the controversy swirling around Bailey’s response to being drafted by Utah.
In a conversation with Carmelo Anthony, Harper offered strong praise for Bailey’s game and emphasized why he believes the Jazz landed an ideal fit. He framed Bailey as a player who brings elite skill and positive energy to any team he joins — both on and off the floor.
“I mean, he’s what — 6’8″, 6’9″, gets to his spots, rises up over people,” Harper said. “I think his IQ is very underrated. It’s hard to get to your spots like he does. Like, he doesn’t care if there are two or three guys in front of him — he’s going to get to his spot and shoot over you.”
Ace Bailey shakes hands with NBA commissioner after being drafted fifth overall by the Utah Jazz during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 25, 2025.
Harper continued, “The way he approaches the game, any team’s going to love him. He brings energy every day. If you’re talking about someone who never runs out of energy and can be a vocal leader in the locker room — someone who’ll make you laugh and keep everyone connected — that’s him.”
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Despite Harper’s praise, Bailey has yet to fully embrace his new team. According to multiple reports, Bailey declined to travel to Utah with fellow Jazz first-rounder Walter Clayton Jr. That decision follows pre-draft efforts by Bailey’s camp to steer him away from certain destinations, including allegedly warning at least one team in the top five not to select him.
The Jazz, led by Danny Ainge, moved forward regardless. At No. 5, they selected the player they believed had the most upside. Utah, in desperate need of wing depth and scoring versatility, sees Bailey as someone who can step in and contribute immediately.
Now, all eyes turn to whether Bailey will show up and commit to the Jazz. If he attempts to hold out, Ainge and Utah could take disciplinary action — including suspending him or refusing to accommodate a trade request — a scenario that could quickly escalate into one of the offseason’s biggest stories.
