Ace Bailey's Summer League Debut: A Winning Start

Ace Bailey, the Utah Jazz's newest addition, made his summer league debut on Saturday night. The game was against the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Jazz came out on top. Bailey, who was picked fifth overall in the 2025 draft, had a mixed performance. He scored eight points but struggled with his shooting, making only three of his 13 attempts. Despite the offensive struggles, Bailey was all smiles after the game. He was happy that his team won and loved the energy from the fans. The crowd at the Huntsman Center gave him a warm welcome, cheering for him even during pregame warmups. Bailey admitted that he needs to get into better shape to keep up with the NBA pace. He's focusing on the little things, like learning the Jazz's system and communicating effectively on defense. He knows that rebounding is crucial and wants to contribute in that area. The Jazz's assistant coach, Scott Morrison, said that the team isn't worried about Bailey's offense right now. They want him to focus on defense, spacing, and communicating with his teammates. Once he masters those aspects, they can work on his shot selection and offensive involvement. Bailey's teammate, Brice Sensabaugh, scored 19 points and led the Jazz in scoring. Kyle Filipowski also had a strong game with 22 points. The Sixers' VJ Edgecombe stole the spotlight with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. Bailey didn't mind that Edgecombe had a great game. He was just happy that his team won. He loved the support from the fans and the excitement of playing in his first summer league game.