We are just a few days away from the 2025 NBA Draft, one that will feature Cooper Flagg as the top pick. What happens after Flagg is taken is a question mark, though, especially given the recent happenings with fellow top prospect Ace Bailey.
NBA Draft Prospect Ace Bailey Raises Character Concerns
Throughout much of the draft evaluation process, Bailey was widely considered the favorite to be the second player to be selected. The 6’9” freshman out of Rutgers averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in his lone college season, which caused him to fortify himself as one of the top-tier prospects in the Class of 2025.
The betting odds were heavily in favor of Bailey going no.2 overall, and essentially every mock draft had him in the same slot.
Latest NBA Mock Draft has VJ Edgecombe to Philly at 3 over Ace Baileyhttps://t.co/u6zCHZUiJQ pic.twitter.com/vxz6BojXdv
— Tankathon.com (@tankathon) June 19, 2025
But oddities in his pre-draft decisions have thrown confusion into the situation. He is the only US-based prospect that has yet to meet with any NBA teams, as he has declined invitations from multiple clubs that are projected to pick within his range.
The Philadelphia 76ers, who own the third overall pick, were set to break the trend this past week. But instead of meeting with Bailey on Friday for a dinner and private workout, the player elected to cancel the visit.
Ace Bailey’s choices have raised red flags. There are now questions about his character, and whether he is worth selecting in the top-3 at all.
ESPN’s NBA insider Brian Windhort identified Bailey as a “dangerous” prospect on Friday. Windhorst said that he is a guy who could put a general manager’s job in jeopardy, whether it be for passing on Bailey before he becomes a star, or for selecting him and having it not pan out due to the character concerns.
"Every year there is a dangerous prospect in the draft, at least one. He's a dangerous prospect."@WindhorstESPN on teams considering drafting Rutgers' Ace Bailey pic.twitter.com/HmXrj31Vq3
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 20, 2025
“I think the team that gets him will be a general manager who is very safe at his job,” Windhorst explained. “(someone) who says ‘trust me, I believe in this player.’”
Among the draft experts, Ace Bailey has seen his stock drop. After a top-3 selection was thought to be a surefire thing, many mock drafts have him falling into the 5-10 range.
The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft will take place this coming Wednesday and will begin at 8PM eastern time. The second round will be held on Thursday.
