When the Toronto Raptors selected Gradey Dick in the 2023 NBA Draft, his three-point shooting was a skill the team needed.
Toronto drafted Dick with the No. 13 pick out of Kansas. In 36 games, Dick averaged 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists on 44.2 percent from the field and 40.3 percent from three-point range.
It was not a seamless transition for the 20-year-old when embarking on his rookie season. He struggled to find his shooting rhythm on the NBA level, dropping him to the G League.
Dick would play with the Raptors 905 to find that rhythm and confidence. That time he spent in the G League proved to pay dividends as he is now being productive in his minutes with Toronto.
In the last 9 games, Dick is averaging 12.9 points in 21.2 minutes a contest. He is shooting 54.8 percent on 4.7 attempts from three, 66.7 percent on corner threes and 82.4 percent in the restricted area, per Keerthika Uthayakumar of TSN.
For a Raptors team that is now in the midst of a rebuild, Dick is now getting another opportunity.
He has found his shooting touch once again and he is providing a much-needed scoring punch off the bench.
The former Jayhawk is shooting 26-for-52 from three-point range over the last month.
This has Dick second in best three-point percentage among players who have attempted at least 50 threes over that stretch, per Aaron Rose of Sports Illustrated.
All in all, it is reassuring for the Raptors scouting department to see Dick start to turn it around. As Toronto navigates through this rebuild, hitting on draft picks is crucial.
While the rookie still has a long way to go in his career and these shooting splits need to be sustained, Dick is finding his way in the NBA.
Scottie Barnes and Gradey Dick are top 15 in NBA jersey sales in Canada
When Dick declared for the 2023 NBA Draft, he became quite a popular name throughout the drafting process.
Since coming to Toronto, that popularity has only grown. He and teammate Scottie Barnes are top 15 in NBA jersey sales in Canada.
Have you subscribed to the Raptors Nation YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
