“Stop being a diva and HOOP!” Fans react as Ace Bailey misses Utah trip amid holdout speculation
The NBA world has been buzzing after newly drafted No. 5 overall pick Ace Bailey didn’t make the flight to Utah—a move that’s sparked swirling speculation among fans. Some accuse the 18-year-old Rutgers product of an early holdout, while others say it’s simply part of pre-draft chaos. Let’s break it all down.
The backstory: Pre-draft antics spark controversy
In the lead-up to the draft, Bailey’s camp made waves by choosing not to work out for top-five teams, including Utah, the 76ers, and Hornets. His agent reportedly rang teams like the Wizards, Pelicans, and Nets—positions 6–8—expressing that Bailey would not report if drafted by an unwanted team That strategy resulted in a PR mess. One outlet dubbed it a “PR failure”—a game of chicken that ended with Bailey landing in Utah, seemingly against his preference
Utah’s president Austin Ainge defended the pick, pointing to in-depth scouting and combine performance, dismissing concerns about Bailey skipping workouts as common
✈️ Utah trip shake-up: Holdout rumors flare
When it emerged that Bailey didn’t travel with the Jazz to Utah, social media exploded. Fans, already unamused by the pre-draft saga, took to X (formerly Twitter), with posts like:
“Ace Bailey is PISSED that Utah drafted him ”
“Lmaooooo Ace Bailey didn’t wanna go to Utah and they drafted him anyway
One obnoxious take? “Stop being a diva and HOOP!” summed up the impatience—fans want to see commitment, not negotiations on the court.
Those in Bailey’s corner argue it’s premature to label this a holdout; NBA rookies often tweak travel, contracts, and media appearances early on, perhaps laying groundwork for financial or playing-time discussions.
What Bailey himself says
Despite rumors, Bailey has been emphatic: he’s focused on basketball and performance, not politics.
- “I can control what I can control. They feel how they feel…
- Declared himself “glad it’s over” and “ready to play some basketball now”
On draft night, he admitted he was unaware Utah was seriously interested and suggested he was surprised to land there—but his tone on joining has been consistently positive
️ Fan sentiment: backlash and cautious optimism
Utah fans are clearly polarized:
- Disapproving: “He does NOT want to be in Utah,” “He’s gonna want out”—many see Atlanta drama in progress (Hopeful: “Great value at 5,” “Huge upside”—others appreciate the bold gamble
Podcasts and forums are exploding—some chalk this up to rookie nerves, others to early power-playing.
Utah’s position: Calm amid the storm
The Jazz front office isn’t panicking:
- Co-owner Dwyane Wade tweeted:
“When you can get a player as talented as ACE with the 5th pick you don’t overthink it, you do it!”
- Austin Ainge referenced strong scouting and combine insights:
“It’s not super uncommon” for prospects to skip workouts, and they still trust Bailey’s fit
- Owner Ryan Smith chimed in: Bailey will be welcomed wildy, saying he’ll “feel love like he’s never felt before” in Utah
Looking ahead: What matters most
Despite the drama, Bailey likely needs more than just PR mitigation—his early focus has to be on the court:
- The Jazz finished last season 17‑65, and desperately need offensive jolts
- Bailey scored 17.6 PPG in college, with flashes of elite upside (
- He still has holes—ball‑handling, playmaking, consistency—but with modern coaching, there’s room to grow .
✅ Final take—drama, but still draft day
Yes, the early noise looks messy: missed workouts, an absent rookie trip, amplified holdout chatter. Fans are impatient—and understandably so.
But Bailey hasn’t publicly backed away from Utah. His messaging is calm, focused. The Jazz are standing firm, building infrastructure around him. The real verdict will come once he sets foot on the court.
Until then, Utah fans can expect more talk—and maybe even some more missed flights. But real answers wait until the late fall, when he finally puts all that promise and emotion into a Jazz uniform.
Bottom line
Ace Bailey’s Utah start has been controversial, but still all about basketball. His path? Rocky—but far from over. It’s now on him to silence critics, not with words—but with buckets, assists, and effort. Holdout or highlight—Utah is watching.
