Another day, another endorsement deal for popular Toronto Raptors rookie Gradey Dick
Former University of Kansas basketball guard Gradey Dick of the Toronto Raptors, who signed a footwear and apparel deal with Adidas in July, has added Canadian energy drink GURU to his impressive list of product endorsements.
Dick, a 6-foot-8, 205-pound Wichita native, was selected No. 13 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft after a successful one-and-done season at KU. Dick on Wednesday was introduced as a brand ambassador for GURU Organic Energy Corp., a company based in Canada. According to a GURU news release, “this strategic collaboration is GURU’s first with a professional basketball athlete. Gradey also acquired shares of the company and will receive options in GURU as part of the collaboration.”
Dick will be busy in his role with GURU.
“Together, we are working to develop a series of events and activations for fans across Canada,” Carl Goyette, president and CEO of GURU said in a statement. “With Gradey on board as brand ambassador, we are confident that our company’s future will be even more dynamic and prosperous as we continue our commitment to delivering excellence to our customers and stakeholders.”
Dick, who turns 20 on Nov. 20, will take part in events designed to promote basketball in Canada, GURU indicated.
“My vibe and my personality I like to say is just genuine,” Dick said in a commercial spot released Wednesday. “I think being genuine and having good people around you in your circle is just so important. You want people that support you in everything that you do. You want that support system when things are tough. As I go into a new city like Toronto it takes a lot of energy embracing a journey like this and GURU helps me do that.”
Last December Dick signed an NIL deal with Adidas, as did Indiana’s Jalen Hood-Schifino and Trayce Jackson-Davis as well as Northwestern State’s Hansel Emmanuel. This was well before Dick signed a multi-year footwear/apparel deal with Adidas this summer.
According to sportskeeda.com, Dick in his one year at KU also had endorsement deals with Meritrust Credit Union, Continental Tires, Tommy’s Express Car Wash and Beats by Dr. Dre. Dick signed with WME Sports for NIL representation in May 2022.
According to spotrac, Dick signed a four-year contract with the NBA’s Raptors worth $21,422,551. His annual average salary will be $5,355,638. His base salary for his rookie season is $4,536.720.
According to stockhouse.com, “shares of GURU were trading at C$2.20, up 1.85% as of 11:40 a.m. Wednesday.”
Doke changes numbers
Former Kansas center Udoka Azubuike, who wore jersey No 35 in college and No. 20 in his three seasons with the NBA’s Utah Jazz, will wear No. 27 with his new team, the Phoenix Suns.
“When I was in Utah, I wanted to pick the number I got drafted, but I couldn’t get it because big Rudy Gobert was wearing it. The number that was available for me was 20,” Azubuike said in an interview with azcentral.com.
Azubuike was the 27th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He signed a two-way contract with Phoenix on Aug. 8 after Utah failed to pick up the option on his contract. His two-way deal is not guaranteed.
Azubuike — he turns 24 on Sept. 17 — averaged 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds while logging 10.0 minutes a game in 36 games for the Jazz last season. He hit 81.9% of his shots but was just 35% from the line.
The 6-11, 270-pound Nigeria native scored a career-high 13 points in a win over Sacramento on March 20. He averaged 7.5 points (on 81.4% shooting) and 6.3 rebounds in the last 10 games of the season. Azubuike had four double-digit-scoring outings during that 10-game stretch. He grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds in a win over Denver on April 8.
