Inside the NBA Summer League: Rutgers Stars Ace Bailey & Dylan Harper with The Athletic’s Law Murray
What better way to break down and analyze Rutgers’ two basketball standouts than with The Athletic’s very own Law Murray. Murray, who began his writing career with ESPN covering a multitude of teams, now serves as an NBA analyst for The Athletic.
Below are key quotes from our exclusive conversation discussing the early professional outlook for Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, two of the most highly anticipated prospects in Rutgers basketball history. Additionally, you’ll find a link to the full audio
recording of our discussion here: https://screenapp.io/app/#/shared/kcxj0q_NUH
Ace Bailey
Amar:
“A lot of analysts and media folks see Ace Bailey as having an arrogant attitude… do you think that affects how he plays or how teams view him?”
Murray:
“That’s not really for me to say. The only way it ever comes up again is if he has extreme results... but I’m not gonna define him based on that. It’s up to Ace now.”
Murray:
“His pre-draft process wasn’t particularly positive... it was certainly off the beaten path. But he got drafted — and that’s the goal.”
Murray:
“Bailey’s in a spot where he might be able to stand out more... I think he’s really gonna want to play basketball at a high level — and if he does that, then that’s the conversation.”
Dylan Harper
Murray:
“He gave the Spurs someone who could handle the ball and make plays… besides David Jones, Dylan was the guy you watched and thought, ‘he might actually be part of the next great Spurs team.’”
Murray:
“Just make shots. That’s all you need from Dylan Harper right now — make shots, stay healthy, and build on Game 1.”
Amar:
“There’s a worry... if he’s getting injured so quickly here, how can he sustain an 82-game season?”
Murray:
“I don’t think it’s relevant. These are the least important games he’ll play. Even preseason matters more than Summer League. He’s on the floor now. That’s what matters.”
Murray:
“Dylan’s already done the hard part — he got drafted. Now it’s just about playing the right way and letting the results come.”
