When the NBA revealed the roster for the 2026 Rising Stars Game, one name was clearly absent: Ace Bailey of the Utah Jazz. Despite being Utah’s fifth overall pick in last summer’s draft and emerging as one of the most versatile two-way rookies in the league, Bailey was snubbed. With a chip on his shoulder and his play trending in a good direction, Bailey might be ready to put the league on notice.
The snub could be the fuel Bailey needs to finish the season strong
Bailey has put up solid numbers for a Jazz team that has taken a cautious approach to the rookie's development. He’s averaging 11.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, while shooting 45% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc, all in just under 25 minutes.
What may be more notable is who the NBA chose to put on the team instead of Bailey. Names like Copper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and VJ Edgecombe come as no surprise. Former BYU guard Egor Dёmin and Collin Murray-Boyles are a bit more surprising. Even Ace's former Rutgers teammate, Dylan Harper, being picked when Bailey wasn't is peculiar.
The averages are very close: Dёmin (10.4 pts, 3 reb, 3.4 ast), Murray-Boyles (7.8 pts, 5.1 reb, 2 ast, 2 stls), Harper (10.2 pts, 3.3 reb, 3.5 ast). Statistically, Bailey matches up to all three and, in some areas, is performing better. Perhaps the fact that Harper and Murray-Boyles are playing on winning teams had an effect (although historically it hasn't mattered), but that doesn't explain Dёmin.
Regardless of the reason for not including the Jazz rookie, Coach Will Hardy doesn't appear to be concerned. “We don’t set out in the season as a goal of ours is to get Ace in the Rising Stars Challenge,” Hardy said, according to KSL Sports. “We want to help Ace get through this season and help him be a way better player by the end than he started.”
As unfortunate as being left off the team may be, perhaps it could be the fuel needed to springboard Ace Bailey into a stellar second half of his season. He has already been trending in that direction. Bailey has gone over the twenty-point mark three of the last four games, including a 20-point game against the Clippers on national television (the team's only national game of the year).
For those who have watched Ace Bailey closely so far this season, know he has been better than advertised. All of the knocks on Bailey coming into the Draft have not been at all what Jazz fans have experienced so far this season. His basketball IQ is very high; he consistently makes the right reads, and his effort on defense guarding wings has shown fans impressive flashes.
The most impressive thing has been his efficiency. For being labeled a tough shot maker coming out of Rutgers, Bailey has essentially played within the natural flow of the offense this season. His shooting percentages are phenomenal for a rookie still adjusting to the NBA's strength and athleticism. If anything, Jazz fans want him to get more aggressive.
One thing we know is that as the Jazz continue to focus on their protected pick in the draft, there will be more and more opportunities for Bailey to show what he can do in a larger role. With 35 games remaining and Ace Bailey already starting to hit his stride, the league could look back on the decision to leave him off this team and wonder what they were thinking.