Confident, NBA 2025 draft Ace Bailey boldly compares himself to Durant and Tatum

Ace Bailey boldly compared himself to Kevin Durant and Jason Tatum

NBA draft No. 1 Ace Bailey boldly compared himself to superstars Kevin Durant and Jason Tatum before the draft.

Ace Bailey is considered one of the top rookies to participate in the 2025 NBA Draft, and this draft is in-depth. As the draft approaches, the former Rutgers Scarlet Cavaliers star compared himself to some well-known NBA stars.

At a press conference, the 18-year-old guard/forward was asked about his comparison with some well-known NBA stars. According to HoopsHype and USA Today’s Michael Scotto , Bailey confidently listed Kevin Durant, Jason Tatum and Paul George as his players comparison targets.

"Big Three: KD (Kevin Durant), Paul George and Jason Tatum," said Ace Bailey. "The shooting opportunities George and Tatum created are incredible. I think I will do the same. KD dribbles once or twice in the midfield and scores directly."

Considering that these three are superstars in the league, this is a pretty good comparison. Durant is considered one of the best pure scorers in NBA history, while George is considered one of the best offense and defense players in decades. In addition, Tatum is one of the most versatile players in the NBA and still has room for improvement.

Bailey played for Rutgers for a season and proved himself to be the scoring machine of the "Scarlet Cavaliers". During his year at Rutgers, he averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, with a shooting completion rate of 46.0%, and a three-point shooting percentage of 34.6%. Many compare Ace Bailey to Durant, mainly because of his height (6-foot-10) and smooth scoring ability.

The former Rutgers star is considered to be the recognized second-place pick in the NBA draft, second only to former Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flag. However, drafts are always unexpected. Other players worth considering include point guard Dylan Harper (who is Ace Bailey’s college teammate) and Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe. The

NBA draft will begin on June 25. Ace Bailey is expected to be selected in the top three picks. If his career ends up approaching Kevin Durant, Paul George or Jason Tatum, he will certainly be a superstar in the league.