Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s the detailed profile of Gus Bailey:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Augustus Bailey
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born February 18, 1951 – Died November 28, 1988 (Lived to 37 years old)
  • Hometown: Gibson, North Carolina, USA
  • Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
  • Weight: 185 lbs (84 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 ft 6 in
  • Shoe Size: Size 14 (US)
  • Number: #44, #20, #35
  • Position: Shooting Guard / Small Forward
  • High School: Laurinburg Institute, Laurinburg, North Carolina
  • College: University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)
  • NBA Draft: Selected 23rd overall (2nd round) in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets
  • Teams Played For:
    • Houston Rockets (1974–1976)
    • New Orleans Jazz (1976–1979)
    • Played briefly for the Washington Bullets (1979)
    • Also played internationally and in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA)
  • Championship Rings: No NBA Championships
  • Kids: Information on children is not widely available.
  • Siblings: Information on siblings is not widely available.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Gus Bailey’s player archetype was that of a defense-first swingman: a 6-foot-5 wing who brought length, activity, and a team-oriented game more than shot creation. Defensively, he fit as a perimeter stopper and utility forward, using his size to check wings, help on the glass, and do the dirty work that rarely showed up in headline numbers. Offensively, Bailey was more of a complementary piece than a primary scorer, leaning on straight-line finishing, cuts, transition play, and opportunistic scoring rather than high-volume isolation or playmaking. His physical traits pointed to a lean, mobile frame at roughly 185 pounds, which suited an energetic, versatile style on the wing. Overall, his play style reads like a rugged role player who defended, rebounded well for his position, and accepted low-usage minutes in support of more ball-dominant teammates, a profile that also aligns with his productive UTEP career and modest NBA box-score output. (Basketball Reference)

Sources:
Basketball-Reference — Gus Bailey Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and More
NBA.com — Gus Bailey | Guard | Houston Rockets
The Draft Review — Augustus “Gus” Bailey
UTEP Miners — 2013 Inductees
UTEP Miners — UTEP Set to Induct 12th Athletic Hall of Fame Class