KU’s Gradey Dick officially introduced as new member of Toronto Raptors. What he said
Gradey Dick’s 20-minute introductory news conference Monday at the Toronto Raptors’ OVO Athletic Center in Ontario, Canada, drew positive reviews from media on hand to meet and greet the 19-year-old former University of Kansas guard.
Last Thursday, Dick was chosen by the Raptors with the 13th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
“To be sure, Dick hit all the right notes in his first full-on media session in Toronto,” wrote Toronto Star sports reporter Doug Smith, who has been covering the NBA’s Raptors since their inception in 1995. “He comes across as a teen without any sense of entitlement regarding his role. He was a great college shooter and joins a team in desperate need of that skill, but said the right things.
“There is no doubt that Dick is a fan favorite before even taking part in one full-on Raptors practice. He’s outgoing and talkative, willing to put himself out there as his garish red outfit on draft night showed,” Smith added.
Dick’s ruby red sports jacket and turtleneck shirt, black slacks and chain with his new “GD” logo around his neck will go down as one of the wildest outfits in the history of the draft.
Dick said on Monday the draft night look could have been even more remarkable.
“I think I was telling them (Raptors front office officials) I might have gone a little crazier — the pants matched with the top but they didn’t come in fitting right. It kind of saved me a little because I kind of toned it down but still kept it pretty loud,” Dick said, smiling.
On Monday in Toronto, Wichita native Dick wore a beige suit coat with light stripes, matching pants and white shoes. He had a white shirt, no collar. It was more business casual than Thursday’s unconventional fashion choice.
“He’s charismatic and that attracts attention,” wrote Toronto Star reporter Smith.
Dick, who averaged 14.1 points (on 40.3% three-point shooting) in his one-and-done season at KU and is expected to bring some offensive firepower from beyond the three-point arc to the Raptors, made some new friends over the weekend in Toronto leading up to the news conference.
“On the most positive note, I’ve noticed how beautiful the city is and walking down the street how genuine people are around here,” Dick said. “I’ve talked about it a lot even before the draft that I wanted to be in an organization (where) I can find that good fit, but also be on a winning culture with a fan base not like anybody else.
“I think I hit the jackpot coming here. I see that with my parents (Bart and Carmen) walking down the street, families coming up. The first thing they say is, ‘Welcome to Toronto. We’re glad to have you.’ That’s what we take to heart the most rather than a quick, ‘Hi, bye.’”
He also praised first-year Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic, who led Dick and Raptors free agent signee Markquis Nowell of Kansas State through a workout before the news conference. The two in July will take the court for Toronto’s Summer League team in Las Vegas.
“Meeting coach for the first time, seeing his personality and how it really suits me as a player ... I was talking a little earlier about being a sponge. That’s what I had to do going into Kansas,” Dick said. “Me being a new guy there, learning from a Hall of Fame coach (Bill Self) like that. You put a coach like Darko — one of the most intelligent minds out there — it’s ... a win-win thing where I can come in and work with him. I think it’s pretty rare having a coach put you through a personal workout. Not a lot of teams have that. It’s a huge advantage that will help prepare me to hit the ground running.”
Dick said he’s looking forward to spending time with his new coach, a 44-year-old former NBA player.
“The thing that stood out (from the workout) was the knowledge,” Dick said. “Just different movements around the court I’ve not thought about ever. Him picking out little things, putting in different drills, stuff I’ve never done before that has helped my game.”
Dick realizes there will be ups and downs his rookie season. He told the Toronto media: “I’ll be one of the younger dudes on the team. It’s one of those things where I can come in and learn a ton quick.”
As far as being a young, one-and-done college player, Dick was asked to pinpoint the moment he realized he’d be a lottery pick in 2023.
“I had the mentality I could always get to this point. But I’d be lying if I said I would know for sure I’d be in this spot right here,” Dick said. “It’s a blessing. I’m grateful for it.
“Probably around the end of my junior year going into my senior year (at Sunrise Christian Academy), where I said, ‘I need to write down these goals with my dad,’ the last being (to be) a one-and-done. Going to KU, going through the season not focusing at all ahead of our games and practices, (I got) to that point realizing if I can be consistent with how I work, what I can bring to a team, I can do it.”
