The Ace Bailey Thread

[Liver_Pooty]

I could probably name 20 hornets over the last 7 years that made it to the league being dumb and immature lol. I don’t think he’s dumb but all or most kids that age are immature.

[SWedd523]

You don't make it to this level being dumb and immature.

That's a bold statement

[fatlever]

You don't make it to this level being dumb and immature.

That's a bold statement

lol, right. like, Go watch the Gilbert Arena's documentary on Netflix and tell me about playing at elite level and still being incredibly immature.

Anyway here's an interview with ace that's posted on the hornets website
https://www.nba.com/hornets/videos/2025-draft-combine-interview-ace-bailey

I don't really have any issues with anything he said here. Sure it'd be great to hear him talk about defense rather than mid range jumpers but nothing really stood out here that would be a red flag.

[JMAC3]

If MJ, Kobe, Anthony Edwards interview from the combine from the past was brought up now saying the same things it would be called Alpha, Killer Mentality, Confident...

Ace Bailey does it and it's immature.

You are lying to yourself if you don't think 18 yr old Kobe had the same mentality.

[fatlever]

What on earth makes you think he's immature and dumb?

If you don't like his game just say that, but to say he's immature and dumb is just flat out wrong unless you provide proof.

We literally just gave specific examples of his behavior during the Chicago combine where multiple teams made comments about him being immature in his interviews.

So having a bad interview makes you dumb and immature?

Do you realize some people are just not comfortable doing interviews. Maybe he has a joking/unserious personality.

To call him flat out dumb is disrespectful. You don't make it to this level being dumb and immature.

I never once said he was dumb. I said that there were certain teams that came away from Chicago concerned about his maturity level and his approach to the interview process. While other teams were fine with his approach.

[Rich4114]

Right, I certainly agree that it's apples to oranges applying corporate job interviews versus elite NBA draft pick interviews. I 100% get that.

But there's still that level of professionalism and self awareness that a lot of front offices certainly want to see from candidates, and there's certainly other front offices that don't give a flying **** as long as you can put the ball in the basket. And thats what makes him a very polarizing prospect. And I honestly don't know which type of front office we are at this moment in time. I would have said under the old regime that they would lean towards the old School of I don't give a **** as long as you can but the ball in the basket. Mitch was never afraid to draft immature players as we saw it multiple times. I'm not sure that applies to this whole Hornets dna mantra that we have now. I guess we will find out. And sometimes the talent outweighs the mantra and you just have to take the best player regardless.

I am 1000% confident we are of the corporate mindset. We are run by corporate people from the owners to the head coach. So having this conversation, actually makes me pretty confident Ace will not be our pick lol

[KingCat]

I cannot be shocked that someone the age of a highschooler is immature.

A lot of talk is liking an attempt to get Ace to drop

[JustBuzzin]

You don't make it to this level being dumb and immature.

That's a bold statement

lol, right. like, Go watch the Gilbert Arena's documentary on Netflix and tell me about playing at elite level and still being incredibly immature.

Anyway here's an interview with ace that's posted on the hornets website
https://www.nba.com/hornets/videos/2025-draft-combine-interview-ace-bailey

I don't really have any issues with anything he said here. Sure it'd be great to hear him talk about defense rather than mid range jumpers but nothing really stood out here that would be a red flag.

Gil definitely fits the dumb immature description.

So Bailey had a bad interview now he's labeled dumb and immature before his career even starts lol

[Rich4114]

I've come around a little more on Ace, but I can't tell if the kid is a dawg or immature and dumb. I'd want to know that Ace has the ability to get to the rim, draw fouls and stand his ground on defense. The elite shot making is nice, especially when it's the late 4th quarter and you NEED someone who can go get you a bucket when it matters most. Is he Bouknight level of idiocy or is he coachable and willing to expand his game beyond just practicing and taking difficult (low IQ) shots?

What on earth makes you think he's immature and dumb?

If you don't like his game just say that, but to say he's immature and dumb is just flat out wrong unless you provide proof.

what about "I can't tell if he is a dawg or immature and dumb" says to you that I think he is immature and dumb? I literally said I cannot tell.

[JustBuzzin]

I've come around a little more on Ace, but I can't tell if the kid is a dawg or immature and dumb. I'd want to know that Ace has the ability to get to the rim, draw fouls and stand his ground on defense. The elite shot making is nice, especially when it's the late 4th quarter and you NEED someone who can go get you a bucket when it matters most. Is he Bouknight level of idiocy or is he coachable and willing to expand his game beyond just practicing and taking difficult (low IQ) shots?

What on earth makes you think he's immature and dumb?

If you don't like his game just say that, but to say he's immature and dumb is just flat out wrong unless you provide proof.

what about "I can't tell if he is a dawg or immature and dumb" says to you that I think he is immature and dumb? I literally said I cannot tell.

If you cannot tell why even bring it up?

[fatlever]

If MJ, Kobe, Anthony Edwards interview from the combine from the past was brought up now saying the same things it would be called Alpha, Killer Mentality, Confident...

Ace Bailey does it and it's immature.

You are lying to yourself if you don't think 18 yr old Kobe had the same mentality.

I would say the difference is that while Kobe had the mentality that he was always the best player on the floor he was always incredibly mature for his age. I mean he was someone that was very composed even at 18 having spent his entire life around professional athletes and also growing up in Italy tends to have that type of impact.

And that's great when you are in fact the best player on the floor. But as we saw with Kai Jones it's a **** nightmare when you're not the best player on the floor and you think you are. Now I know that Kai is an An extreme example of when confidence can ruin your career, just Pointing out that having confidence in your ability can go both ways. And I think there's a difference between confidence and irrational confidence. Thinking you can make every shot you take versus understanding what is a good shot and a bad shot and potentially passing out of a shot to a teammate that might have a better shot.

These are the things that scouts are trying to figure out with ace. Does he have confidence or irrational confidence. Are his abysmal assist numbers and the fact that he took so many tough shots because his teammates were **** awful or is because he's a selfish player? If it's the latter do you feel confident that this is something you can coach out of him in the next few years. I mean these are the only things keeping him from being absolutely locked in at number three.

[Rich4114]

To be clear, I still like Ace as a prospect and while there are many concerns outlined throughout this thread and elsewhere -- there is no doubting he is a very skilled prospect who could end up being a star. He comes with more risk than someone like VJ though and I would assume most people would agree.

[Rich4114]

What on earth makes you think he's immature and dumb?

If you don't like his game just say that, but to say he's immature and dumb is just flat out wrong unless you provide proof.

what about "I can't tell if he is a dawg or immature and dumb" says to you that I think he is immature and dumb? I literally said I cannot tell.

If you cannot tell why even bring it up?

Are you personally insulted that my question on Ace suggests it's a possibility based on how he has answered basic questions in his first NBA-focused professional setting? Like, yes he might be but I am not sure if he is or is not because the spirit behind his statement can be viewed in polarizing ways. Thus "polarizing prospect".

[fatlever]

That's a bold statement

lol, right. like, Go watch the Gilbert Arena's documentary on Netflix and tell me about playing at elite level and still being incredibly immature.

Anyway here's an interview with ace that's posted on the hornets website
https://www.nba.com/hornets/videos/2025-draft-combine-interview-ace-bailey

I don't really have any issues with anything he said here. Sure it'd be great to hear him talk about defense rather than mid range jumpers but nothing really stood out here that would be a red flag.

Gil definitely fits the dumb immature description.

So Bailey had a bad interview now he's labeled dumb and immature before his career even starts lol

Again I don't know why you're trying to put words in anyone's mouth by saying that people are calling him dumb. Gilbert Arenas is actually a smart dude, he was just really immature. You can be both smart and immature.

And you can be smart and mature and still have irrational confidence. You can be an incredibly smart person and have a terrible basketball iq. And you can be dumb as rocks and have savant basketball IQ.

[Rich4114]

If MJ, Kobe, Anthony Edwards interview from the combine from the past was brought up now saying the same things it would be called Alpha, Killer Mentality, Confident...

Ace Bailey does it and it's immature.

You are lying to yourself if you don't think 18 yr old Kobe had the same mentality.

I would say the difference is that while Kobe had the mentality that he was always the best player on the floor he was always incredibly mature for his age. I mean he was someone that was very composed even at 18 having spent his entire life around professional athletes and also growing up in Italy tends to have that type of impact.

And that's great when you are in fact the best player on the floor. But as we saw with Kai Jones it's a **** nightmare when you're not the best player on the floor and you think you are. Now I know that Kai is an An extreme example of when confidence can ruin your career, just Pointing out that having confidence in your ability can go both ways. And I think there's a difference between confidence and irrational confidence. Thinking you can make every shot you take versus understanding what is a good shot and a bad shot and potentially passing out of a shot to a teammate that might have a better shot.

These are the things that scouts are trying to figure out with ace. Does he have confidence or irrational confidence. Are his abysmal assist numbers and the fact that he took so many tough shots because his teammates were **** awful or is because he's a selfish player? If it's the latter do you feel confident that this is something you can coach out of him in the next few years. I mean these are the only things keeping him from being absolutely locked in at number three.

LOL how did I forget about the Kai Jones example, exactly the point...

[fatlever]

I cannot be shocked that someone the age of a highschooler is immature.

A lot of talk is liking an attempt to get Ace to drop

It's possible there is some of that. And look it's hard to judge someone at 18 versus what they will be at 2223 but this is all you have to go on as a front office when making these very difficult decisions.

And maybe I'm a little sensitive to this topic but cause the Hornets have been burned several times recently by drafting immature players who either failed to develop at all or only developed many years later once they matured. We can't miss on this pick. So if we draft ace I want them to be certain that he is someone who can adapt his game as needed to become the best player possible for us.

[JustBuzzin]

what about "I can't tell if he is a dawg or immature and dumb" says to you that I think he is immature and dumb? I literally said I cannot tell.

If you cannot tell why even bring it up?

Are you personally insulted that my question on Ace suggests it's a possibility based on how he has answered basic questions in his first NBA-focused professional setting? Like, yes he might be but I am not sure if he is or is not because the spirit behind his statement can be viewed in polarizing ways. Thus "polarizing prospect".

If we are drafting a prospect the last thing im thinking about is his interview.

Panthers took Tmac and it was reported he was immature and didn't watch football. At the end of the day he was still the best prospect on the board. His game speaks for itself. Same as Ace.

I'm done here I just thought it was a weird assumption.

[JMAC3]

If MJ, Kobe, Anthony Edwards interview from the combine from the past was brought up now saying the same things it would be called Alpha, Killer Mentality, Confident...

Ace Bailey does it and it's immature.

You are lying to yourself if you don't think 18 yr old Kobe had the same mentality.

I would say the difference is that while Kobe had the mentality that he was always the best player on the floor he was always incredibly mature for his age. I mean he was someone that was very composed even at 18 having spent his entire life around professional athletes and also growing up in Italy tends to have that type of impact.

And that's great when you are in fact the best player on the floor. But as we saw with Kai Jones it's a **** nightmare when you're not the best player on the floor and you think you are. Now I know that Kai is an An extreme example of when confidence can ruin your career, just Pointing out that having confidence in your ability can go both ways. And I think there's a difference between confidence and irrational confidence. Thinking you can make every shot you take versus understanding what is a good shot and a bad shot and potentially passing out of a shot to a teammate that might have a better shot.

These are the things that scouts are trying to figure out with ace. Does he have confidence or irrational confidence. Are his abysmal assist numbers and the fact that he took so many tough shots because his teammates were **** awful or is because he's a selfish player? If it's the latter do you feel confident that this is something you can coach out of him in the next few years. I mean these are the only things keeping him from being absolutely locked in at number three.

You think Kobe was a better prospect as the 13th pick in the draft than Ace Bailey, the #2 ranked high school prospect and projected #3 pick?
Ace Bailey was the #2 ranked player in the nation, up to this point in his life he has been the best player on the floor.

Kai Jones was a sophomore who averaged under 9 ppg and was the 50th ranked recruit in the country- you think Ace is closer to Kai as an example then he is currently to Kobe Bryant?

Anthony Edwards shot 37-122 (30%) from midrange in college and 69-237 (29.1%) from three in college on a 16-16 team. Do you think his career goes better if he would have looked at that and said, I clearly am not a very good shooter and should lower my confidence as a basketball player?

Ace Bailey shot 46% from midrange on 200 shots and 35% from three on 136 threes.

[fatlever]

back on track... a good write up on ace

https://www.theringer.com/2025/05/21/nba-draft/nba-draft-dylan-harper-ace-bailey

[SWedd523]

I cannot be shocked that someone the age of a highschooler is immature.

A lot of talk is liking an attempt to get Ace to drop

I don't care how dumb and immature he may or may not be, I'm still taking him way before Nipples