Jazz Rookie Ace Bailey Draws Kevin Durant Comparisons Early
The Utah Jazz have introduced an exciting new talent to their roster this season, and his name is Ace Bailey. Drafted as a top-five pick from Rutgers, Bailey has already caught the eye of fans and analysts alike with his offensive potential. Even though it’s early in his professional career, whispers of a comparison to Kevin Durant have started to follow him—and Bailey himself sees some truth in it.
During the preseason, Bailey faced off against Durant for the first time, and the experience left an impression. He described a moment on the court where a play he executed mirrored one Durant had just performed. “One of my teammates was like, ‘Bro, y’all just did the same move,’” Bailey explained. “He did the little spin jump shot creation, and I came down and did the same thing. It was just like, ‘Bro,’ I didn’t even realize. It’s crazy.” That acknowledgment of similarity speaks volumes about how Bailey has modeled his game after the 2014 league MVP, whom he has admired since his early days in basketball.
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Bailey is a lanky, lengthy wing capable of scoring at all three levels, and his versatility has been visible in the preseason. In his first two games, he posted over 20 points in each, shooting more than 70% from the field. This kind of efficiency on a variety of shots highlights the offensive skills that make the Durant comparison plausible. While his regular season debut against the LA Clippers was limited—he managed just two points while on a minutes restriction due to the flu—his glimpses of scoring ability show promise for the Jazz, who have been searching for a reliable scorer to pair with Lauri Markkanen.
What makes Bailey particularly intriguing is his mindset and approach to the game. He has openly spoken about Durant being his inspiration, and it seems he has consciously modeled his movements and shot creation around the veteran star. For the Jazz, having a player with that level of ambition and scoring acumen is a valuable asset. Bailey has already demonstrated flashes of what could become a high-end scoring career, and the comparisons to Durant, while ambitious, are grounded in his style of play and the way he has approached the game from the start.
As the Jazz move into the regular season, fans and analysts will be watching Bailey closely. If he continues to develop his offensive repertoire and maintain the efficiency he showed in the preseason, he could quickly establish himself as a central figure in Utah’s lineup. For now, the rookie is embracing the challenge, learning from one of his idols, and showing the NBA what he’s capable of—one spin move and jump shot at a time.
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