Paul George Retracts Pre-Draft Comments on Ace Bailey, 'Everybody Has Their Own Path'
Paul George took back his previous comments on Ace Bailey.
"I want to retract what I said on the situation," he said on the latest episode of his podcast that was released Monday (31:15:00 mark). "How can we get on a kid who knows what he wants? We're not in his shoes. … He wants to do it his way. He's good enough, he's got the talent. He's going to go where he wants to go. Which, that's his decision. It could have backfired, but it didn't.
"... Everybody has their own path. However you want to trail blaze, that's on you. Who are we to say, 'nah, you've got to do it this way, that way.'"
Last month, the Philadelphia 76ers star said Bailey "can't get mad" if his draft stock drops because "you're not in a position to be making those demands."
George was reacting to reports about Bailey's predraft strategy, which ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Shams Charania reported "perplexed NBA teams" as he declined invitations from multiple clubs.
"Sources say Bailey's camp has informed interested teams that it believes he is a top-three player in the draft, but also seeks a clear path to stardom, hoping to find a situation with ample minutes and usage to maximize his full potential," Givony and Charania reported.
Despite some confusion about the Rutgers product's predraft strategy, the Utah Jazz ended up selecting him with the No. 5 overall pick of the 2025 NBA draft. He quickly reported to the team, told reporters he didn't consider not coming to Utah and participated in Summer League.
At this point, Bailey and fellow first-round pick Walter Clayton Jr. are focal points of Utah's rebuilding process.
While the team will likely struggle at times in the loaded Western Conference, the duo could be a dynamic one in the years to come if they each live up to their potential. Bailey will have to do so under more of a spotlight given the reports about him during the predraft process, but he has already taken the court in Summer League and will look to continue making progress.
And he has also already drawn a retraction from a nine-time All-Star.
