How to Guard Ace Bailey
Ace does most of his damage from three-point (44.6% of his attempts) and is a below-the-arc scorer. The plan below is built from where he actually shoots this season.
Where Ace scores
Share of his 2025-26 field-goal attempts by zone, with how efficiently he finishes each. This is the map the game plan is built on.
The scouting report: how to defend Ace
Contest the pull-up, do not over-help
A large share of his offense (22.2% of attempts) comes from the mid-range, where he shoots 36.4%. Stay attached and contest straight up. Loading up extra help off shooters just feeds a shot he already lives in.
Go under screens, sag into the paint
He is a lower-volume or below-average outside shooter (34.4% on 398 attempts). You can go under ball screens and sink into the paint to take away the drive and dare him to settle for the jumper.
Get Ace's full matchup plan
The page above is the shot profile. HoopBrief turns it into a complete game plan, the exact coverage to run, on-ball positioning by spot, whistle tendencies, and the one counter to deny, in your own coaching lens.
Frequently asked questions
How do you guard Ace Bailey?
Contest the pull-up, do not over-help: A large share of his offense (22.2% of attempts) comes from the mid-range, where he shoots 36.4%. Stay attached and contest straight up. Loading up extra help off shooters just feeds a shot he already lives in. Go under screens, sag into the paint: He is a lower-volume or below-average outside shooter (34.4% on 398 attempts). You can go under ball screens and sink into the paint to take away the drive and dare him to settle for the jumper.
What is Ace Bailey's biggest weakness on offense?
Relative to the rest of his shot diet, Ace is least efficient on his three-point attempts (34.4% on 398 shots this season). Steering him toward that shot, rather than the ones he makes at a high rate, is the statistical edge.
Is Ace Bailey a good three-point shooter?
Ace has taken 398 three-pointers this season and made 137 of them (34.4%). That share of his offense (44.6% of his attempts) is what decides whether you chase him over screens or sag under them.
How many points per game does Ace Bailey average?
Ace is averaging 13.8 points per game this season, along with 1.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds. Scoring volume is why he draws the defensive game plan on this page.
How to guard other players
Shot-profile and box-score figures reflect Ace Bailey's 2025-26 season. Defensive recommendations are generated from that shot distribution and are teaching guidance, not a guarantee of outcome.