The story of how top prospect Ace Bailey turned down Shaq to sign with Nike

For months in the lead-up to the 2025 NBA Draft, Ace Bailey of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights was projected to be one of the top prospects, a feeling which has diminished somewhat over the last few weeks. 

Why Ace Bailey’s NBA Draft stock has fallen

The 18-year-old has received criticism, including from the Philadelphia 76ers’ Paul George, touted as a potential teammate, for refusing to make any individual team visits before the draft. Additionally, and quite bizarrely, Bailey is reported to have “lost” 3 inches - Rutgers have him listed as 6′ 10” but he measured “only” 6’7 1/2” at the draft combine. 

As a result, his stock has fallen, although the expectation is that he should still have plenty of suitors relatively early on in the first round. 

And Bailey is used to being a man in demand, which even led to him turning down the legendary Shaquille O’Neal. 

The reason Bailey rejected Rebook and Shaquille O’Neal

Since October 2023, the four-time NBA champion has been Reebok’s President of Basketball, a role in which he is tasked with luring the sport’s biggest names into signing with the footwear and clothing brand. WNBA star Angel Reese was Shaq’s first recruit but, like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a deal for Bailey proved to be elusive. 

On Netflix’s Power Moves with Shaquille O’Neal, the former Magic and Lakers icon revealed the simple reason why Bailey had slipped through the Reebok net and ultimately signed with Nike. 

“Had the opportunity to sign Ace Bailey, but he’s a very expensive ticket. I don’t even want to have that conversation. So, now it’s just back to the drawing board.”

Ace Bailey’s NIL deals

Bailey signed NIL deals with Nike and the Knights of Raritan worth a reported $1.6 million, making him one of the best-paid stars coming out of college basketball this year. 

For some, those demands, along with his refusal to make team visits, paint a picture of a young player who has ideas above his station. For others, it’s the sign of a hot prospect who’s backing himself to go all the way in the NBA. We’ll know which one it is when the 2025/26 NBA season gets underway in October, but who will he be playing for?

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