Ace Bailey Settles In: Jazz Forward's Rookie Numbers and Early Year Two Returns
Ace Bailey enters his second season with the Utah Jazz off a 72-game rookie year that saw him play 27.6 minutes a night. He is not on the injury report, and the early 2026-27 schedule has already put him back on the floor against Phoenix, San Antonio and Denver.
By the Jazz Nightly Desk · updated 4 d ago01The story of the nightWhere Bailey Stands NowAce Bailey is back with the Utah Jazz for 2026-27, wearing No.
Ace Bailey is back with the Utah Jazz for 2026-27, wearing No. 19 and still logging minutes at forward. The 20-year-old out of Rutgers heads into his second pro season after appearing in 72 games as a rookie. He is not on the injury report, and there is no injury history listed for him, which means the Jazz have had him available and healthy as the schedule has opened up. At 6-9 and 200 pounds, he gives Utah length on the wing, and his role early this season has already put him on the floor against Phoenix, San Antonio and Denver twice.
02The Rookie Season by the NumbersBailey's debut season, 2025-26, was a full one: 72 games played, 27.6 minutes a night.
Bailey's debut season, 2025-26, was a full one: 72 games played, 27.6 minutes a night. He averaged 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.7 blocks, with 1.5 turnovers a game. His shooting split was 44.3 percent from the field, 34.4 percent from three and 75.0 percent from the line, good for a true shooting mark of 53.3 percent. His usage rate sat at 21.0, showing he was already a featured part of the offense as a rookie. His plus-minus for the season was minus-6.2.
03Early Returns in 2026-27The season-opening stretch has given a first look at Bailey in year two.
The season-opening stretch has given a first look at Bailey in year two. On October 16 against Phoenix, a win, he scored 12 points with 3 rebounds in 21.1 minutes, posting a plus-7.0. On October 12 against San Antonio, also a win, he had 6 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 23.6 minutes with a plus-14.0. The Jazz lost on October 6 against Denver, when Bailey had 10 points and 7 rebounds in 27.0 minutes at minus-5.0. Two days before that, in a win over Denver on October 4, he scored 10 points with 5 rebounds in 20.2 minutes, finishing at plus-11.0.
04How Last Season EndedBailey's final stretch of 2025-26 showed some of his higher offensive outputs of the year.
Bailey's final stretch of 2025-26 showed some of his higher offensive outputs of the year. On April 10 against Memphis, a win, he scored 23 points with 10 rebounds and 2 assists in 28.8 minutes, plus-29.0. On April 3 against Houston, a loss, he had 22 points and 6 rebounds in 32.6 minutes. He also logged 19 points and 5 assists in a March 30 loss to Cleveland in 35.0 minutes, his highest assist total in the sample. Not every night closed well: an April 5 loss to Oklahoma City saw him at minus-47.0 despite 14 points in 33.5 minutes.
05Health and AvailabilityBailey is not on the injury report heading into this stretch of the season, and there is no listed injury history…
Bailey is not on the injury report heading into this stretch of the season, and there is no listed injury history for him. That bodes well for continuity in his role as the Jazz settle their rotation early in 2026-27. Given he played all 72 games last season at 27.6 minutes a night, durability has not been a concern for him so far in his young career.
06Starting Lineup ChatterA September 29 Jazz Notes report, via Shreyas Laddha, touched on the team's starting five conversation, naming…
A September 29 Jazz Notes report, via Shreyas Laddha, touched on the team's starting five conversation, naming Peterson, Sensabaugh and Nurkic in that context. As with any preseason lineup talk, it is a report on discussion, not a finalized decision, and nothing further on Bailey's specific role in that conversation is confirmed.
Jr.13.7 ppg
