Gradey Reed Dick[1] (born November 20, 2003)[2] is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2022 class. A small forward, in 2022, Dick was named the boys Gatorade National Player of the Year. He also runs a podcast on Bleacher Report, called "Welcome Party".

Gradey Dick
NBA Rookie Photo Shoot with Toronto Raptors in 2023
No. 1 – Toronto Raptors
PositionShooting guard / small forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2003-11-20) November 20, 2003 (age 21)
Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeKansas (2022–2023)
NBA draft2023: 1st round, 13th overall pick
Selected by the Toronto Raptors
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–presentToronto Raptors
2023–2024Raptors 905
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2021 Debrecen Team

High school career

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Dick started high school at Wichita Collegiate School in Wichita, Kansas, where he spent two years. In his final year with the school, he averaged 20 points a game while reaching the state playoffs.[3] He subsequently transferred to Sunrise Christian Academy. He played two years for the school, averaging 18 points a game in his senior year.[4]

He was named to the rosters for the McDonald's All-American Game, and Nike Hoop Summit.[5][6] On March 22, 2022, Dick was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year.[7][8]

Recruiting

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He received basketball scholarship offers from Kansas, Iowa State, and Baylor, among others, during his first two years of high school.[9] He emerged as a five-star recruit during his tenure with Sunrise Christian Academy. On March 3, 2021, he committed to playing college basketball for Kansas over offers from Florida and Illinois.[10]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Gradey Dick
SF
Wichita, KS Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Mar 3, 2021 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 92
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 28  247Sports: 21  ESPN: 14
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Kansas 2022 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  • "2022 Kansas Jayhawks Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  • "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 7, 2022.

College career

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In his college debut, Dick tallied 23 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 assist in an 89–64 victory over Omaha.[11] He was named to the Second Team All-Big 12 as well as the All-Newcomer and All-Freshman teams.[12] During the 2023 NCAA tournament, he performed well, recording 19 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and three steals against Howard.[13][14] As a freshman, he averaged 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. On March 31, 2023, Dick declared for the 2023 NBA draft.[15]

Professional career

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Toronto Raptors (2023–present)

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The Toronto Raptors selected Dick with the thirteenth overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft.[16] He made his 2023 NBA Summer League debut on July 7 against the Chicago Bulls with ten points, four rebounds and two assists in a 83–74 loss.[17] On July 15, 2023, Dick recorded 21 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals to help the Toronto Raptors win 108–101 against the Golden State Warriors in his fifth summer league game.[18]

On November 23, 2023, the Raptors assigned Dick to the Raptors 905 of the NBA G League.[19] In his first game against Capital City Go-Go, Dick shot 1 for 12 missing all six three-pointers and having three turnovers in a 115–101 loss.[20] Dick bounced back on December 1, 2023, with a strong winning performance against the Maine Celtics. He shot 7 for 14 and made 4 of 7 three-pointers in a strong 21-point performance. It was the Raptors 905's first win of the season.[21]

On March 27, 2024, during a 145–101 blowout loss against the New York Knicks, Dick scored a then career-high 23 points.[22] On April 10, 2024, during a 106–102 loss against the Brooklyn Nets, Dick scored a previous career-high 24 points.[23]

On October 26, 2024, during a 112–101 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Dick scored a then career high of 25 points.[24] On October 30, Dick scored a then career-high 30 points in a 138-133 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.[25] On November 1, Dick scored a then career-high 31 points in a 131-125 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.[26] On November 12, Dick scored a career-high 32 points against the Milwaukee Bucks.[27]

National team career

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Dick represented the United States at the 2021 FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Cup in Debrecen. He averaged 3.2 points, helping his team win the gold medal.[28]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023–24 Toronto 60 17 21.1 .425 .365 .863 2.2 1.1 .6 .0 8.5
Career 60 17 21.1 .425 .365 .863 2.2 1.1 .6 .0 8.5

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022–23 Kansas 36 36 32.7 .442 .403 .854 5.1 1.7 1.4 .3 14.1

Personal life

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Gradey Dick was born in Wichita, Kansas to Hugh and Carmen Dick. Dick is a Christian. He has said, “I was given, fortunately, all these blessings in my life, and that’s kind of my hand, and I’m trying to do the best I can do with it and glorify God while I’m doing it.”[29]

On July 17, 2023, Dick signed a multi-year deal with Adidas.[30]

His mother, Carmen Dick, played college basketball for Iowa State.[31]

References

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  1. ^ "Gradey Reed Dick". FIBA 3x3. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  2. ^ "Gradey Dick profile". FIBA.Basketball.
  3. ^ "Kansas basketball star Gradey Dick has two years of high school left, but is already a high-level DI recruit". BVM Sports. July 1, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  4. ^ "Kansas commit Gradey Dick wins Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year". sports.yahoo.com. March 22, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  5. ^ "Sunrise star Gradey Dick named McDonald's All-American". www.kake.com. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  6. ^ "USA team set for Nike Hoop Summit". 247Sports. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  7. ^ "Gradey Dick wins Gatorade National Player of the Year award". kwch.com. June 8, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  8. ^ "Gradey Dick Earns Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year". SLAM. March 23, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  9. ^ "Class of 2022 Kansas target Gradey Dick transferring to Sunrise Academy | Tale of the Tait". KUsports.com. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  10. ^ Winick, Matthew (March 4, 2021). "5-star forward Gradey Dick commits to Kansas". theScore.com. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  11. ^ Bedore, Gary (November 7, 2022). "Gradey Dick throws down game-high 23 points in his college basketball debut for KU".
  12. ^ "🏀 Jayhawk Starters Headline 2023 All-Big 12 Honors for Kansas". Kansas Jayhawks. March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  13. ^ Olsen, Eric. "Jayhawks' March Madness star gets basketball genes from mom". Rutland Herald. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  14. ^ Polacek, Scott. "Gradey Dick's Draft Stock Surges Among Fans as Kansas Tops Howard in NCAA Tournament". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  15. ^ Givony, Jonothan (March 31, 2023). "Kansas freshman Gradey Dick to enter NBA draft".
  16. ^ Siegel, Brett (June 22, 2023). "Gradey Dick: Meet the Raptors' No. 13 pick in 2023 NBA Draft". ClutchPoints. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  17. ^ "Raptors' Gradey Dick: Struggles in debut". CBSSports.com. July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  18. ^ "Warriors 101-108 Raptors (July 15, 2023) Box Score -ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  19. ^ "Raptors assign first-round pick Gradey Dick to Raptors 905". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  20. ^ Reporter, Doug Smith Sports (November 25, 2023). "Raptors rookie Gradey Dick 'couldn't throw anything in the ocean' in G League debut. He'll get another shot". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  21. ^ "MNE vs RAP". NBA G League. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  22. ^ "Knicks cruise past Raptors in most lopsided home loss in Toronto's history". tsn.ca. March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  23. ^ "Gradey Dick scores career-high 24 points in Raptors' loss to Nets". sportsnet.ca. April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  24. ^ Zicarelli, Frank (October 26, 2024). "Raptors' growing pains continue in road loss to Timberwolves". torontosun.com. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  25. ^ "Tre Mann scores 27, Hornets get 72 points from their bench to beat Raptors 138-133 for 1st home win". espn.com. October 31, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  26. ^ "Davis scores season-high 38, Lakers beat Raptors 131-125 for first road win of the season". espn.com. November 2, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  27. ^ "Antetokounmpo scores 23 to lead Bucks past Raptors 99-85 in matchup of NBA's worst". espn.com. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  28. ^ "KU commitment Gradey Dick brings home gold medal with Team USA at 3-on-3 World Cup | Tale of the Tait". KUsports.com. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  29. ^ Doering, Joshua (December 20, 2022). "Gradey Dick playing key role for No. 4 Kansas as he aims 'to make Him proud'". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  30. ^ Laddha, Shreyas. "Now in NBA, former KU Jayhawks basketball star Gradey Dick signs contract with Adidas".
  31. ^ "Jayhawks' March Madness star gets basketball genes from mom". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
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