After an All-Rookie campaign defined by rapid growth, the former lottery pick must now translate offseason conditioning into a high-stakes role within Utah’s evolving offensive system.
Jason Terry has spent quite a bit of time around young players trying to figure out what comes next.
Terrell Brown Jr. is one obvious example. Utah’s newest guard has known Terry for most of his life, later played for him at Arizona and has openly discussed modeling portions of his own career after the former Sixth Man of the Year.
Ace Bailey’s relationship with Terry is considerably different.
But the Jazz assistant coach has now watched Bailey navigate an entire NBA season, and his assessment of what comes next is pretty simple.
More development ... and more responsibility, though neither should be assumed.
“Year two will still be more development and growing,” Terry told Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. “But he’ll definitely hopefully earn more responsibility out there on the floor with minutes.”
That wording fits how Bailey’s rookie season actually unfolded.
Utah selected him No. 5 overall in 2025, but his first year wasn’t defined by immediate stardom. Bailey averaged 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists across 72 games while gradually taking on a larger offensive role as the season progressed.
The growth became particularly noticeable after the All-Star break.
Bailey averaged 18.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 blocks in 30.3 minutes over that stretch, eventually earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
That doesn’t mean the developmental work is finished.
Will Hardy was still identifying rookie habits Bailey needed to eliminate late in the season, including unnecessary fouls on jump shooters. But the Jazz coach also praised Bailey’s improved conditioning, work on his body and ability to learn while playing through mistakes.
Terry sees something similar.
“What I’ve seen is a guy coming into the league basically wet behind the ears and not knowing anything, and then get his development process implemented and sped up,” Terry told Robinson. “As he learned, he got more and more responsibility.”
That last part is probably the most important.
Utah didn’t simply hand Bailey a bigger role because of where he was drafted. His responsibility increased as his game improved.
Terry expects Year 2 to follow a similar process.
He described Bailey as a “quick learner,” “hard worker” and “gym rat,” while praising the energy he brings into the building.
Those traits won’t guarantee Bailey anything next season, but the second half of his rookie year already provided evidence that increased responsibility is available when he earns it.
And after Utah watched Bailey turn development into production once, Year 2 becomes less about discovering whether he belongs.
It becomes about how much more the Jazz can realistically put on his plate.
