After being selected No. 13 in the 2023 NBA Draft, the pressure was on Gradey Dick to perform well at the 2023 NBA Summer League. And the bright-red sequined suit may not have helped.
The lottery pick was looked at as likely the best shooter in the entire class, so Summer League was thought of to be a breeze for the former Jayhawk.
But in his very first NBA action, Dick struggled. He shot just three-for-12, hitting on only two of his nine 3-point attempts. He managed to add on four rebounds, three steals and two assists, but also had three turnovers.
It wasn’t a downright terrible performance, but it wasn’t reflective of his talents, either.
Game two was a similar, albeit slightly better story. Just 11 points on 13 shots. The added eight rebounds and four assists helped, but Dick didn’t rack up any defensive counting stats.
In his third contest, he finally turned it around.
In a close four-point loss to the Pistons, Dick finished with a game-high 22 points, racking up seven rebounds, three assists and a steal in the process. He shot 50 percent from the field, but still only hit on two of his 10 3-pointers. An encouraging mark considering his clean and projectable shooting stroke is sure to translate.
His fourth and potentially final game was his best yet: 21 points on 50 percent shooting, five rebounds, two steals and a block. At last, Dick managed to his three of his five shots from beyond the arc in what was Toronto’s first Summer League game.
Dick is sure to be a key contributor for the Raptors next season, who are looking to get back on track after a moderately disappointing 2022-23 regular season and the departure of their starting point guard: Fred VanVleet.
Dick may see a similar trajectory in the NBA. But he’s sure to find his groove eventually as he navigates NBA waters.
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