Ace Bailey neared a double-double in his debut in the Salt Lake City Summer League, helping the Utah Jazz post a 93-89 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.
Bailey finished with eight points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot in nearly 25 minutes of action at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. He earned the start in the contest, going 3 of 13 from the field, including 1 of 5 from 3-point range.
The fifth overall pick struggled to make shots, though he flashed his potential as a rebounder, with several coming over a crowd. He also had a highlight-worthy block after making an acrobatic effort to swat an attempt away by Mark Armstrong.
Ace Bailey said “NOT ON MY WATCH!” 🚫
The No. 5 overall pick is making presence known!
📺 Salt Lake City Summer League on ESPN pic.twitter.com/DDonPO0Ho0
— NBA (@NBA) July 6, 2025
After orchestrating a precarious predraft process, Bailey said at his introductory press conference on June 29 that he was eager to play basketball once again. He had that opportunity on Saturday after taking part in several practices ahead of summer league.
The Jazz have reportedly been impressed by Bailey in workouts and meetings since joining the team, according to ESPN. They have put Bailey and the rest of the team through rigorous workouts over the past week and have been pleased with the results from those sessions.
Bailey and the Jazz return to action on Tuesday for their second of three matchups in Utah. After that stretch, they will play at least five games in the NBA Summer League, beginning Friday in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Jazz news: Ace Bailey nears double figures in summer league debut