Ace Bailey, the highly touted rookie for the Utah Jazz, faced an unfortunate setback ahead of his much-anticipated NBA debut against the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite being cleared to play, Bailey was added to the injury report due to an illness, leading to a restriction on his playing time for the season opener.

The Jazz had planned for Bailey to make a significant impact in his first game, but now he is expected to play limited minutes, capped at around 15. As a result, he will start the game from the bench instead of taking on a more prominent role. This comes after a promising preseason where Bailey averaged 16.0 points while shooting an impressive nearly 65% from the field.

Bailey, who turned 19 in August, was a five-star recruit before joining Rutgers, where he had a standout freshman season averaging 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds across 30 games. His transition to the NBA was eagerly awaited, with many fans and analysts expecting him to contend for the Rookie of the Year award, especially given his high draft status as the fifth overall pick.

As the Jazz gear up for their season, Bailey’s health will be crucial. The team hopes that once he fully recovers, he can leverage his skills to help elevate the Jazz’s performance as they look to make a mark in the competitive Western Conference. The upcoming game against the Clippers will serve as an opportunity for Bailey to get a taste of NBA action, albeit in a limited capacity, before he hopefully returns to full fitness for the remainder of the season.