Is Utah Jazz Rookie Ace Bailey Related to Former Jazz Star Thurl Bailey? Similar Surname and Profession Spark Rumors of a Potential Connection

Thurl Bailey and his wife Sindi Bailey have been happily married for over three decades.

June 28, 2026

This article was last updated by Suruchi on June 27, 2026

Ace Bailey, an American professional basketball player and former Rutgers star, is making headlines with his recent entry into the NBA.

The former Rutgers star, Ace Bailey, will officially join the Utah Jazz of the NBA after being selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Ace Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in his single season at Rutgers.

Furthermore, he played 30 games, logging an average of 33.4 minutes per game, shooting 46.0% from the field and 34.6% from three-point range, showing his remarkable performance at Rutgers.

With his entry into the NBA, Ace Bailey not only won the hearts of many but also sparked curiosity among netizens about his family background.

Many are also curious to know if Ace Bailey is related to former NBA star Thurl Bailey, given their shared surname, similar professions, and the fact that both began their NBA careers with the Utah Jazz.

Thurl Bailey, a former basketball player who began his NBA journey with the Utah Jazz in 1983, played with the team until 1991.

He also returned to Jazz as a free agent on January 21, 1999, before retiring from his NBA career at the end of the 1998-99 season.

While the question of whether Ace Bailey is related to Thurl Bailey has been swirling around the internet, the answer is no.

Despite sharing the same last name and profession, the two NBA players are not related and come from different families.

Jazz Rookie Ace Bailey Comes From an Athletic Family

Basketball is in the genes of Jazz rookie Ace Bailey. He was born Airious ‘Ace’ Bailey on August 13, 2006, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States, to parents Ramika McGee and Richard ‘Richy’ Bailey, both former college basketball stars.

His father, Richard Bailey, played college basketball at the University of Houston, where, with his amazing athletic skills, he led his team to several victories.

Before attending the University of Houston, Richard Bailey, a Texas native, played basketball at South Garland High School.

Despite being the father of a renowned basketball player, Richard prefers to maintain a low profile and hasn’t shared much about his professional and personal life.

Talking about Ace Bailey’s mother, Ramika McGee, was a basketball star at West Virginia University.

Standing at a towering height of 6’2”, Ramika played center for the West Virginia women’s team.

Over the course of her career, she 38 games, averaging 2.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.1 assists per game.

She maintained a field goal percentage of 44.4% and a free throw percentage of 67.6%, contributing efficiently in he role.

Similarly, she graduated from the University of West Virginia with a degree in Physical Education Teaching and Coaching in 2005.

Prior to West Virginia, Ramika played basketball and also coached the basketball team at Okaloosa Community College, from which she earned her associate’s degree in 2002. She also played basketball at Brainerd High School.

Since 2019, has been serving as the driver’s license examiner in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

In addition to his parents, Ace Bailey’s aunt, Venus Lacy, is a former American basketball star who earned a gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, representing the United States, and a bronze medal in the 1991 Pan American Games.

Bailey’s younger sister, Airiel Bailey, is also pursuing a career in sports, having played varsity basketball and volleyball at Brainerd High School.

Thurl Bailey Is a Proud Father of Six Successful Kids

The former Jazz star, Thurl Bailey, is blessed with six children, including two daughters, Chonell Springs and BreElle Bailey, and four sons, Thurl Jr., Brendan, Bryson, and TeVaun.

Furthermore, he has a daughter, Chonell, with his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Michele Ford, and two sons, Thurl Jr. and TeVaun, from his first marriage.

Thurl Bailey and his longtime wife, Sindi Southwick, share three children: BreElle, Brendan, and Bryson.

While his two kids, Chonell and TeVaun, pursued their careers in the media industry, his other four kids followed Thurl’s footsteps in sports.

His eldest daughter, Chonell Monique, born on 18, 1981, is a model and actress. She graduated from Coppin State University in 1999.

Likewise, his son, , is an exceptional photographer, videographer, graphic designer, and singer-songwriter, who has been serving as the Senior Graphic Designer of Tiger Leather since 2026. TeVaun earned his degree in advertising and graphic design from Guilford Technical Community College in 2016.

His son, , born on June 9, 1997, is a professional basketball player currently pursuing his career in the NBA G League playing for KMA Hong Kong.

Prior to KMA, he played internationally for Lulea in Sweden, SZTE-Szedeak in Hungary, and Niners Chemnitz in Germany.

Brendan began his basketball journey at American Fork High School and continued his collegiate career at Marquette University, where he played for the Golden Eagles.

He later transitioned to the NBA G League, representing teams like the Salt Lake City Stars, Osceola Magic, and Wisconsin Herd.

Likewise, his other son,, who currently serves as a senior analyst for the Milwaukee Bucks, played basketball at St. Andrews University, from which he earned his B.A. in sports and fitness administration in 2009.

Thurl Bailey Jr. is thriving in his career as an analyst. He served as the financial advisor for Wells Fargo Advisors and as a Healthcare Billing Specialist for LabCorp.

His youngest son, , who recently committed to Salt Lake Community College, played as a forward at Utah Tech and Skyridge High School.

Similarly, his youngest daughter, BreElle Bailey, who is a senior fragrance development manager of Pura in Utah, played volleyball at North Carolina State University and Arizona State University.

While at Arizona State University, won several honorable titles, including 2015 Pac-12 All-Conference Team Honorable Mention, Pac-12 Volley All-Star Team, and many more.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• Ace Bailey played high school basketball at Boyd-Buchanan School, later transferring to McEachern High School.
• While at Rutgers, Ace Bailey won several honorable titles, including Mr. Georgia Basketball, Nike Hoop Summit, and McDonald’s All-American.

• Check other Articles on

Suruchi is a business management student with a strong passion for writing, particularly when it comes to sports. She loves creating articles and blogs that explore various aspects of the sports world. With a curious mind and a love for both academics and creativity, she constantly seeks to expand her knowledge and share her insights through her writing.

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