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Par Guillaume Kagni | Journaliste sportif
With just over a month to go before the draft, some things already seem established, such as the fact that Cooper Flagg will be the first name called by Adam Silver. Behind that, however, things are a little less clear-cut, particularly for Ace Bailey. The hotshot has just worried all the franchises with his latest statement.
Right now, some of the top prospects expected at the draft are in Chicago for the traditional Combine. This is their chance to officially meet the franchises and the media, and show what they can do under pressure. Between athletic exercises, friendly matches and interviews, these youngsters are put to the test.
France’s Maxime Raynaud, currently announced as a second-round selection, made a big impression by dominating the mid-week friendly. His 20 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists could help him to move up the table and secure a guaranteed contract. But not everyone is as comfortable as the Stanford alumnus.
Ace Bailey worrying before the draft
While Ace Bailey won’t have to wait long to hear his name called by Adam Silver on June 25, his attitude at the Combine has some franchises on the edge of their seats. Accused of taking bad shots throughout the NCAA season, unlike his teammate Dylan Harper, the young winger gave a rather moody response to his detractors in a press conference.
My confidence in the shots I take comes from my training. I work a lot on those shots. And the shots I take in training are the shots I’m going to take in matches. If people think my shots are bad, it’s because they don’t work on them. I work on these situations. I have two or three defenders on me during my sessions.
In those moments, I have to create separation to be able to take my shot. I became a good shooter in high school, working with my coach on my technique and the shape of my shot.
The biggest criticism of Ace Bailey this season in the NCAA was that he too often took shots over close defense.
So this statement could be seen as a final sign of confidence, proof that he’s hard-working, or a sign that he won’t change his approach to the game. The problem is that, against NBA defenders, there are only a handful of players who can afford to attack two or three opponents head-on. It’s not reassuring.
