Ace Bailey Speaks On Utah Scenery, Going To Jazz Training Facility
Jun 29, 2025, 5:24 PM
The mic sits on a table prior to Utah Jazz officials speaking at an end of season press conference at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Jazz rookie Ace Bailey arrived in Utah on Saturday, quickly taking in the mountain views before heading straight to the team’s training facility.
At the rookie’s introductory press conference, Bailey, Walter Clayton Jr., and John Tonje all gave their first impressions of the Beehive State.
the fellas™#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/zfHUvxLrt6
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) June 29, 2025
“It’s some great scenery,” Bailey said. “As soon as I got off the plane, I didnt think the mountains were real. I mean, it was so beautiful. Seeing that, getting off the plane, meeting the coaches, it was all great.”
Clayton shared a similar sentiment, pointing out the mountains and saying the weather was warmer than he had expected.
Jazz Introduce Three Rookies At Post-Draft Press Conference
As could be expected with all of the narratives around the No. 5 pick, that storyline was quickly addressed.
When asked if he had ever considered not coming to Utah, Bailey’s answer was short and sweet.
“No, not at all,” Bailey said. “(I’m) just blessed to be in this position. Not a lot of people can sit in these chairs.”
Clayton was then asked about the reported Collin Sexton trade and how that affects the guard rotation. He agreed that minutes would be freed up, but highlighted the fact that there are still a lot of talented guards with the Jazz.
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“For sure,” Clayton said. “But, I still think we have a lot of great guards here. A lot of guys that can get on the floor, so definitely some work to put in still.”
Walter Clayton prefers “Walt” as a heads-up for @utahjazz fans.
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) June 29, 2025
Back to Bailey. He was asked about how his game fits on the current Jazz roster and if he expects to have a day one impact in the NBA.
As a top pick and consensus top prospect, Bailey has all of the talent in the world, but he pointed out his energy before anything else.
“I’ve got great energy,” Bailey said. “I can do everything. From rebounding, from defense, to scoring, to passing. I can bring a lot in different ways. In th gym, late nights, all the work I put in — I believe in it.”
Some other notable moments included Tonje saying he believes he slid a bit in the draft but is excited to be with the Jazz, and Clayton saying he needs to do some more work before the ‘Walt Lake City’ nickname can really stick.
