No longer a rookie, former Kansas guard Gradey Dick is poised to “take the next step” as a 20-year-old second-year player with the Toronto Raptors. “Last year he was just getting his feet wet and learning the pace of the game and what it brings,” said Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic to the media ahead of Dick’s second NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
The 6-foot-6, 200-pound Wichita native scored 18 points on 6-of-17 shooting in Toronto’s 94-69 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in summer league action on Saturday night. He also recorded 10 rebounds, securing a double-double in his summer opener. Dick was 0-for-4 from three-point range, made all six of his free throws, and added six assists (against four turnovers) and two steals in 24 minutes. He was just four assists shy of a triple-double. This was the first of at least five games scheduled for Dick in his second summer league stint. He debuted for the Raptors last year after being the No. 13 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
“This year, I would like to see him be more involved in some on-ball action as well,” Rajakovic said. “Offensively, handling the ball a little bit more in the pick-and-roll. Just trying to open up the next box for him. I think he’s been putting in a lot of work this summer, and these games are a good checkpoint to see his progress and identify areas for further improvement.”
Dick, who averaged 14.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in his single season at KU (2022-23), has had a busy spring and summer. After the last game of the 2023-24 season on April 14, he returned to Wichita to visit family and then traveled to Lawrence for workouts with Raptors teammate and KU grad Ochai Agbaji and Raptors assistant Ivo Simovic. Following that, he resumed workouts in Toronto with his Raptors teammates.
Like Dick, Agbaji, a third-year pro, also started in the Raptors’ summer opener on Saturday. He scored seven points on 3-of-7 shooting with six rebounds and one assist against two turnovers in 24 minutes, including one three-pointer.
Asked if he feels like a veteran, Dick responded, “No. I’m still feeling very young, still learning a bunch. It’s nice to have the vets that are a lot older here, working out with the team. There’s a lot of learning going on.” Preparing for his second summer league and NBA season, he added, “I’m coming in with the same thought process and mindset as last year: to work hard and give what I can to the team, whatever the team needs. I’m still trying to soak up as much information and knowledge as I can.”
As an NBA rookie, Dick averaged 8.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 60 games (17 starts), shooting 42.5% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range. “I’m always trying to grow my game,” Dick said. “I don’t want to be classified as just a shooter. I want to show my full skill set. Last year, I got more minutes due to injuries on the team, and I was ready to showcase my abilities.”
Taking 17 shots on Saturday might indicate his eagerness to expand his offensive game in his second year. “I never want to play outside of my role,” Dick said. “In summer league, you have a bit more freedom to show more, which is good preparation for the regular season.”
While he’s open to a starting role, Dick emphasized, “It’s not really in my mind to be a starter. If it comes with my work, that’s great. But my focus is on being prepared for any role I’m asked to play.”