The Toronto Raptors were not expecting these kind of early-season struggles from rookie Gradey Dick.
Coming into the 2023 NBA Draft, Dick worked up the reputation of being a lights-out shooter out of Kansas. With Toronto lacking high percentage, 3-point shooters, it made a lot of sense to select him with the No. 13 pick.
Being selected by a Raptors team trying to get back into the playoff mix, it was going to be interesting to see where Gradey fit in. However, it has not been pretty in the 15 games he appeared in.
Dick is averaging 3.9 points, 1 assist and 1.5 rebounds on 27 percent from the field and 24.4 percent from distance in 14.7 minutes. These shooting splits are far from ideal, depicting that his game has not yet translated to the NBA level.
The decision was made to send Gradey to Raptors 905 to get his confidence back. Former Raptor Sam Dekker believed his jump shot changed, but Dick disproved this concern:
“I haven’t changed my shot my entire life. I have had the same shot since my mom made it when I was 3 years old.” – Gradey Dick dismissing the idea of the Raptors changing his shot. pic.twitter.com/dfoe5pchd3
— William Lou (@william_lou) December 4, 2023
It is a sigh of relief to know that Dick did not change his shot from college. With many young players resorting to changing their shot, Gradey is sticking to his guns.
Through three games with the 905, Gradey is averaging 15 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1 assist in 36.9 minutes. After scoring 2 points in his G-League debut, his scoring has seen an uptick but he is still not shooting efficiently.
Dick is shooting 27.7% from the field and 28% from three-point range. He is not shy about getting his attempts up, averaging 15.7 field goal attempts and 8.3 3-point attempts per game. The hope is that he will be able to turn it around with more reps with the 905.
Next up for the Raptors
While Dick is struggling to piece things together, so are the Raptors. Sitting with a record of 9-11, the In-Season Tournament has given the team a couple of days off.
Toronto takes the floor on Dec. 6 when former Raptor Kyle Lowry and the Miami Heat come into town.
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!
