Former NBA All-Star makes shocking Rookie of The Year prediction, snubbing Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper after standout preseason

Former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague has made a stunning prediction for the 2025-26 Rookie of the Yr award, snubbing the likes of Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper in favor of Ace Bailey. Bailey made his preseason debut towards the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

He had a stable sport, recording 25 factors, six rebounds, three assists and two steals in 31 minutes, capturing 11-for-16. Being attentive to the rookie’s standout efficiency, Jeff Teague picked him to win the Rookie of the Yr award on Thursday’s episode of the “Membership 520” podcast.

“We’ve seen our Rookie of the Yr; it’ll be him,” Teague stated. “I feel the most effective factor he did was simply transfer on from that state of affairs. He simply put his head down and hooped.” (Timestamp: 01:30)

Teague continued, noting how Bailey’s state of affairs with the Utah Jazz offers him the most effective probability on the award:

“He’s going to have essentially the most alternatives out of all of the rookies to get to shoot, so I’ve already bought him for Rookie of the Yr.”

In his lone season in school, Bailey performed 30 video games for Rutgers, averaging 17.6 factors, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per sport, capturing 46%.

Kevin Durant was impressed with Jeff Teague’s early Rookie of the Yr candidate after preseason exhibiting

Jeff Teague wasn’t the one one raving about Ace Bailey following his stable preseason exhibiting towards the Houston Rockets. Kevin Durant additionally had excessive reward for the No. 5 decide and expressed pleasure for his future within the league whereas chatting with the media:

“A dynamic participant,” stated Durant. “I feel he’s going to be a hell of a participant. I really like the teaching employees that he’s with. I really like that he bought drafted to Utah. I am trying ahead to seeing how he progresses. I am anticipating an enormous 12 months from him and an enormous profession from him. Tonight, he confirmed us what he can do.”

After dealing with a lot scrutiny on social media forward of the 2025 NBA draft, Ace Bailey has shortly modified the league’s notion of him with a stable efficiency. Whereas Teague’s prediction comes approach too quickly, it wouldn’t be stunning if Bailey offers the opposite rookies a run for his or her cash as he kicks off his NBA journey with the Jazz.

Was this text useful?

Thank You for suggestions

In regards to the creator

” data-lazy=”https://keedag.sportskeeda.com/user-pic/2075751-1732968679-200.jpg?w=200″
alt=”Sameer Khan” peak=”72″ width=”72″>

Sameer is an esports and gaming journalist at Sportskeeda who covers a various vary of subjects. He’s presently pursuing a BSc diploma from BITS, however his love for video video games pushed him to pursue a gaming journalism profession. He depends on diligent analysis and fact-checking to ship top-notch content material. He has beforehand labored within the hospitality sector with the Oberoi Group.

Sameer’s gaming journey started with Rockstar Video games’ GTA franchise, particularly
Grand Theft Auto: Vice Metropolis Tales. He strongly prefers multiplayer video games, with FPS being his favourite style, and has devoted 6K+ hours to CS:GO! Nonetheless, he additionally dabbles in open-world, story-based video games occasionally. Solo RPGs like Horizon Forbidden West maintain a delicate spot in his coronary heart, and he would readily drop in it given a Jumanji-type state of affairs.

Sameer makes certain to comply with Counter-Strike and Valorant esports tournaments, as he believes that watching a sport being performed on the highest stage could be extremely academic. He derives inspiration from Tarik’s meteoric rise to grow to be one of many largest FPS streamers on the earth following the discharge of Valorant.

Exterior of labor, you’ll find Sameer taking part in soccer or cheering for FC Barcelona. He additionally likes to learn and write poetry.

Know Extra

Edited by Sameer Khan