No longer an NBA rookie, KU’s Gradey Dick settles into 2nd training camp with Raptors
As a 19-year-old first-year member of the Toronto Raptors, Gradey Dick often was asked to run errands for the squad’s veteran NBA players.
“My rookie duty was always having a new pack of cards on every plane ride. I already saw on our group chat somebody else has to go get them. That feels amazing for sure,” the now 20-year-old, second-year Raptor shooting guard/small forward said Monday at the team’s annual Media Day in Toronto.
Dick, a Wichita native who played at Kansas during the 2022-23 college basketball season prior to turning pro, flew with his Toronto teammates to Montreal on Monday night for the start of 2024-25 training camp on Tuesday. The Raptors’ first exhibition game of the 2024-25 preseason will be against the Washington Wizards on Sunday in Montreal.
“There’s a lot less stress, no anxiety (as a second-year player),” stated Dick, who averaged 8.5 points a game on 42.5% shooting in 60 games (17 starts) his rookie campaign.
“Being new it was a different feeling. Having the season under your belt and not having to worry about going to different places and being late … there’s stress of being a rookie. I’m super grateful for the season and the vets that I had, vets that I still have with Garrett Temple (38-year-old, 15-year pro) pushing me through the season. (Him) allowing me to learn with him has been amazing.”
There’s still one uncertainty as Dick begins his sophomore season in the NBA: Will he be a starter or come off the bench? He’s said to be battling former KU wing Ochai Agbaji for the lineup spot vacated by Gary Trent, who signed with Milwaukee in the offseason.
Four probable starters at this time are: Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl.
“In my case, I’m going to try my best to be in the position that the team needs. And it’s not me pushing my agenda. It’s the role I need to fill, and if that calls for the starting position then I’m going to put my all into that,” Dick said.
Toronto coach Darko Rajaković has said it’d be nice to have an effective 3-point threat in the starting lineup.
Dick, who finished the season a 36.5% 3-point shooter, averaged 11.0 points in February, while shooting 55.4% from the field and 49.0% from 3. In April he he averaged 14.1 points in 30.0 minutes per game.
Agbaji, a 24-year-old, third-year pro, averaged 6.7 points on chilly 39.1% shooting (21.7% from 3) in 27 games (18 starts) after coming to Canada via a Raptors trade with Utah.
If Rajakovic is looking for defense, he might go with Agbaji over Dick in the opening five.
“Just what the team needs,” Dick repeated. “It’s a matter of going in with the coaches, with the team and just personal stuff with me and coach one-on-one. We’re talking about rotations of what’s going to work with guys going in and out, what the team needs on offense but more importantly defense. After talking with coach we looked at the past part of my rookie season. When I locked in the defensive end it helped me transition my offense. When I can make those adjustments it helps me figure out my role even more.”
Dick doesn’t mind the tag of being “just a shooter.”
“I mean if they think I can shoot the ball, that’s amazing. If they think I’m just a shooter you’ve got to use that to your advantage,” Dick said. “It allows me to show different aspects of my game, humbly. When I can get out there and stretch the floor it opens up spaces for RJ, Scottie or ‘Quick’ driving the ball, them knowing in the back of their head I can fill the gap.
“If I”m knocking down 3s and they think I’m a shooter, I can drive and pump fake. Showing different facets of my game is a big advantage I think.”
Dick — he was selected No. 13 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft after averaging 14.1 points on 44.2% shooting and 5.1 rebounds a game during his one-and-done season at KU — remains quite happy playing in Toronto.
The Raptors, who are in a rebuilding mode, are celebrating their 30th season as a franchise in 2024-25.
“The first night I stepped foot in the city everybody was welcoming me and my family walking down the street,” Dick said. “They had a picture of mine (on the side of Scotiabank Arena). Seeing the excitement on people’s faces on the street is exciting.
“Seeing the appreciation everyone has for their team … I’m not going to say other teams’ fans don’t have appreciation for their teams. They obviously do. But it’s a whole different love when you have a whole country going for one team. That’s what I try to tell my friends and family back home. Other NBA teams … their state loves them. Here you have the whole country behind your back. I think that shows even more love.”
