You know the guy is special when The Big Aristotle calls him an expensive ticket before he’s even played a game. It was when, as the President of Basketball Operations for Reebok, Shaq was in the middle of building a new athlete roster. With Allen Iverson right beside him, Angel Reese was the first player they locked in. However, the roster was far from complete. With his expiring Converse deal, Shaq was eyeing  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander next.

However, after SGA re‐upped with Converse on a multi‐year extension reportedly worth $15 million guaranteed, Shaq turned his attention to Rutgers standout Ace Bailey. On Netflix’s Power Moves with Shaquille O’Neal, the Lakers legend spoke about the situation in Hypotheticals first. “The kid I’m looking at wants some big money. And this kid ain’t touch the college floor yet. How will you handle that?” Shaq rhetorically asked his friends and Shareef’s early development coach.

Evidently, Bailey’s demand was loud, unfortunately for Reebok though, so was the price tag. “Had the opportunity to sign Ace Bailey, but he’s a very expensive ticket. I don’t even want to have that conversation. So, now it’s just back to the drawing board,” said the 4x NBA Champ. To add salt to Shaq’s wounds, on Nov. 18, 2024, Bailey inked a contract with Nike. Back then, Reebok might have missed the opportunity. But today, the Utah Jazz didn’t. In the 2025 NBA Draft, with the 5th overall pick, they were able to select Ace Bailey.

The Beehive State welcomed him right out of a standout freshman season where he averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Ace Bailey is the highest pick the Jazz have had in 10+ years. Now don’t get us wrong, it’s a moment of celebration. But the Jazz didn’t exactly enter this year’s draft expecting this. They walked into the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery holding the league’s worst record and what should’ve been a golden ticket. 14% odds at the top pick and better than a coin flip (52.1%) to land in the top four.

Instead? They got the worst-case scenario: fifth overall. They watched helplessly as Dallas, San Antonio, Philly, and Charlotte snatched up those precious top selections. The Jazz might have missed a shot at bagging ACC Rookie of the Year, Cooper Flagg. But this might just be a blessing in disguise. Because, Ace Bailey is a perfect fit. Thanks to his elite scoring potential and positional versatility. It’s exactly what they need alongside Lauri Markkanen and Taylor Hendricks. Now, the time will tell if he is the future they’ve been waiting for.

Utah Didn’t Get Their Top Pick, And Neither Did Ace Bailey

The 2025 NBA Draft had one of its biggest surprises not with the first pick, but with who didn’t want to go fifth. Ace Bailey, Rutgers’ explosive 6’10” wing and a consensus top-three talent, unexpectedly fell to the Utah Jazz at No. 5.  ESPN’s Jonathan Givony called this move “a stunner.” The Jazz, who had the league’s worst record (17–65) and dropped to fifth in the lottery, apparently weren’t just outside Bailey’s top-three hopes but according to Givony, they weren’t even on his list.

“Utah was not one of his preferred destinations,” Givony said on draft night. “He was hoping to get to either Washington, New Orleans, or Brooklyn.” Leading up to the draft, Bailey hadn’t worked out for any teams. He reportedly canceled a meeting with the Sixers (who picked third), and his camp seemed determined to keep him out of the top five altogether.

But despite all of this and what looked like a risky draft-day strategy, the Jazz selected Bailey anyway. It landed him in what might actually be the best situation for him. Bailey publicly denied having a preferred destination (telling Danny Green, “No sir, I don’t” upon being asked). But the perception was clear. His camp’s maneuvering sort of backfired. It even ended up hurting his reputation in the process. CBS Sports noted, “Not only did he and his representation fail to steer him to a preferred destination, but he landed in a place he reportedly preferred not to land.” S

till, there’s a bright side because no team needs Bailey’s skills more than Utah. The Jazz ranked 21st in scoring last season and were desperate for a dynamic offensive weapon. Bailey, who CBS Sports ranked No. 4 on its final Big Board, now joins a young core. He will have plenty of room to grow and immediate playing time to prove himself. Sometimes, the best fits are the ones nobody expected.