Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey has made a quiet leap forward during a thrilling month of January. It's been a welcome development for the Jazz, which have begun to see how their future might shape up once their players realize their potential.
From a broader point of view, Bailey's emergence as a high-quality rookie has gone a long way toward establishing the 2025 NBA Draft as uniquely elite.
The top five picks in the NBA Draft are meant to be the cream of the crop from any class. The odds of all five players, let alone most of the top 10 picks, becoming high-level pros are lower than some might hope, however, and it's even less likely that they'll all thrive as rookies.
The 2025 NBA Draft is laughing in the face of that idea, however, as each of the first nine players off the board have turned in strong rookie seasons.
Cooper Flagg, VJ Edgecombe, and Kon Knueppel were all top five picks who are leaders in the race for Rookie of the Year. Dylan Harper and Collin Murray-Boyles are playing meaningful minutes on potential playoff teams. Egor Demin, Jeremiah Fears, and Tre Johnson are quietly putting up quality numbers in high-usage roles themselves.
Compounded by the immediate breakout performances by All-Rookie favorites Cedric Coward, drafted at No. 11, and Derik Queen, the No. 13 pick, the 2025 NBA Draft has all-time potential.
Ace Bailey's breakout means almost every top-10 pick is already thriving
Bailey overcame a tough opening month with a solid November that has set the tone for the rest of the season. He's now averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.5 three-point field goals made in 24.9 minutes per game, shooting at a clip of .455/.348/.722.
For perspective on how strong his production is, Bailey's averages translate to 16.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steal, and 2.2 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
Bailey played a combined 25 minutes and 31 seconds between his first two games in January, but has since become impossible to keep out of the spotlight. He's scored in double figures in eight of his past nine games, shooting 49.6 percent from the field along the way.
Bailey has also scored at least 18 points in six of his past seven appearances, including three 20-point games that were highlighted by a 25-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs.
Ace Bailey has scored 18+ points in six of his past seven games
With Bailey now turning the corner, the 2025 NBA Draft class can confidently state that, at a bare minimum, each of the top five picks have turned in All-Rookie level seasons. They might not all make it due to the competition for the spots, but they've each flashed the star potential expected of them.
Even a less renowned rookie such as Demin is shooting 39.7 percent from beyond the arc, which is only a hair above Johnson at 39.3 percent.
The hope in Utah is that the trend can continue with Bailey not only sustaining a high quality of play, but building upon his success. He's already done an excellent job of scoring at all three levels, which includes the fact that he's shooting 67.8 percent in the restricted area and a respectable 39.1 percent on midrange jumpers.
If the trend does, in fact, continue, then Lauri Markkanen will have the co-star that the Jazz dreamed of landing when they drafted Bailey.