No. 5 overall pick Ace Bailey will reportedly not play with the Utah Jazz on Friday as they begin their summer league stint in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic.
Bailey debuted with the Jazz in the Salt Lake City Summer League on Saturday, recording eight points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. He followed that performance up with 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists on Monday.
The 18-year-old didn’t play in their finale on Tuesday and will sit on Friday against the Charlotte Hornets due to right hip flexor soreness. The Jazz will provide an update on his status before their next game on Sunday versus the Golden State Warriors (10 p.m. EDT, ESPN2).
After orchestrating a precarious predraft process, Bailey said at his introductory press conference that he was eager to join the Jazz and play basketball once again. He has been active on the court since reporting to the team on June 28.
The Jazz have reportedly been impressed by Bailey in workouts and meetings since joining the team, according to ESPN. They have put Bailey and the rest of the team through rigorous workouts over the past week and have been pleased with the results from those sessions.
The organization will be hopeful that Bailey can suit up in the desert, though the group certainly won’t rush him back into action too quickly. He projects to be a franchise cornerstone beginning next season, and the team won’t want to risk further injury during an exhibition game.
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