45+13+4+4 in two games! Ainge’s big gamble succeeded, KD made it clear, he can win the Rookie of the Year Award

The NBA preseason is in full swing. 30 teams are training their lineups. Stars from three generations, old, middle and young, are giving full play to their strengths, and there are constant surprises! Among the 2025 rookies, Flagg, the top pick of the Mavericks, scored 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block in his debut in 14 minutes. A disgrace to his mission; Edgcomb, the top pick of the 76ers, scored 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in his debut, winning the house. No. 16 pick Yang Hansen scored 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 17 minutes against the Kings. The future is promising. In addition, there is another lottery pick who continues to go on a rampage, no less popular than Flagg, Harper, Edgecomb, and Yang Hansen.

What I want to talk about is Bailey, the Jazz’s No. 5 pick. Going back to before the draft, Bailey's tone was higher than that of No. 1 pick Flagg. Bailey refused individual workouts from all teams. Even though the 76ers, who held the No. 3 pick, arranged flights, hotels and dinners for him, Bailey temporarily canceled the workout arrangements at the behest of his agent. Bailey's young and frivolous behavior seemed to be ignorant of the world, and the American media all criticized him verbally and writingly. According to what the US media said at the time, Bailey was eager to play for a metropolitan team like the Nets and received a draft commitment. He would rather fall down in the draft than find a team that is conducive to the long-term development of his career. In the end, the 76ers stayed away and chose Edgecombe with the third pick, but Jazz boss Ainge refused to believe in evil and chose Bailey blindly with the No. 5 pick.

Bailey fired his agent before the start of training camp, which may show that he later discovered that he was cheated by his agent before the draft. But having said that, once you come, take care of it. Salt Lake City does not have the hustle and bustle of a big city, but there are groups of believers who understand football. And Pele tried his best in the preseason and shined brilliantly! After two games in the preseason, Bailey scored 45 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 1 block! Among them, Bailey started for 31 minutes against the Rockets, making 11 of 16 shots (2 of 5 three-pointers), 1 of 1 free throw, and scored 25 points + 6 rebounds + 3 assists + 2 steals + 1 block; playing 38 minutes against the Spurs, Bailey made 8 of 13 shots (2 of 5 three-pointers), 2 of 2 free throws, and contributed 20 points + 7 rebounds + 1 assist + 2 steals.

Looking at Bailey's performance in the first two preseason games, you have to sigh: He does have the confidence to refuse solo trials. Bailey is 2.02 meters tall and plays shooting guard as a forward. His template is Tatum George, but his playing style is very much like Tracy McGrady, one of the four top shooting guards in the NBA 20 years ago. He has a quick start and a silky jump shot that is so graceful and unrestrained. In the small ball era, tall defenders were always in demand, and Bailey's defensive fundamentals were online. He integrated offense and defense, making him a rare player. In the words of the fans, Bailey has amazing bones and looks like a superstar. Ainge succeeded in making a big gamble in the blind selection. The Jazz finally found the cornerstone for reconstruction.

KD praised Bailey greatly after playing against him. He made it clear: The fact that Bailey was selected by the Jazz is very meaningful in itself. This team has a very good player training system. He has already shown his potential. I expect him to perform well in his rookie season. I think his career will be very successful and he will become an extremely outstanding star in the future. According to US media, the Jazz are open to trading Markkanen and Kessler, perhaps to concentrate resources on cultivating Bailey. Looking forward to the new season, Bailey is definitely capable of winning the Rookie of the Year award - compared with Flagg and Edgecombe, Bailey has no record pressure; compared with Harper and Yang Hansen, Bailey has unlimited firing rights! In KD's words, Bailey's sky is the limit. Fans and friends, what do you think of this? Come and leave me a comment to discuss.