Ace Bailey said he had "no idea" the Utah Jazz were interested in drafting him after the franchise selected him fifth overall Wednesday night, according to The Salt Lake Tribune's Andy Larsen.
Utah wasn't among Bailey's preferred destinations, ESPN's Jonathan Givony added.
The Rutgers product was the only American in the class who didn't work out for a single NBA team after declining several requests heading into the draft.
"I can control what I can control," Bailey said when asked to address people who don't believe he wanted to go to the Jazz, according to Larsen. "They feel how they feel. But my team and me, me focusing on basketball and them doing what they're doing, so it happens."
Although Bailey was unaware of the Jazz's interest, general manager Danny Ainge was excited to draft the young small forward.
"We really like him as a player and a fit in our program," Ainge told ESPN's Tim Bontemps after making the selection.
Bailey, 18, spent his only season in college with the Scarlet Knights alongside second overall pick Dylan Harper. The 6-foot-10 Bailey averaged 17.6 points and 7.6 rebounds on 46% shooting during the 2024-25 campaign.
Utah finished at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 17-65 record last season. The Jazz also added Florida standout guard Walter Clayton Jr. in yesterday's draft after trading up to No. 18 with the Washington Wizards.
