Gradey Dick squashes rumours that he changed the way he made shots for the Raptors.
The Toronto Raptors and their supporters are probably a little disappointed that Gradey Dick, a highly anticipated young guard, hasn’t made the kind of impact they had hoped for in the 2023–24 campaign. While peers like Keyonte George are on rotation, Dick finds himself down in the G League.
The most worrying aspect of Dick’s play this season is that he is shooting less than 30% from three point range, suggesting that his highly anticipated 3-point shot has vanished. Some, like former Raptors bench player Sam Dekker, are questioning whether Toronto altered Dick’s shot mechanics in light of this decline.
The former Kansas star didn’t take long to write this rumour off as mere speculation. Dick thinks he just needs more time and experience to get back on track and return to the NBA rotation, even though his mechanics are the same.
“I haven’t changed by shot my entire life,” said Dick. “Since my mother made it when I was three years old, I’ve only ever shot on a small inflatable basket. Thus, no, my shot has not changed.” Dick doesn’t waver in his conviction that his problems aren’t mechanical.
Gradey The Toronto Raptors, according to Dick, didn’t alter his shot.
In his first G League season, Dick had a terrible time shooting and turning the ball over. He was able to get his legs under him after a few more reps. This is the ideal opportunity for him to correct all of his mistakes and regain his shot.
It didn’t take the former Kansas star long to dismiss this rumour as conjecture. Though his mechanics are the same, Dick believes he simply needs more time and experience to get back on track and rejoin the NBA rotation.
“I haven’t changed by shot my entire life,” Dick replied. “I’ve only had it since my mother made it when I was three years old.
The good news is that if Dick can put on a few pounds and find his shooting again, he should have an extremely clear and simple route to contributing. A player like him is desperately needed by the Raptors, and Toronto is never afraid to give their younger players more playing time than their more seasoned veterans.
Working with Dick is worthwhile because his skill set is exactly what this team needs. It might only be a matter of time for the former top Jayhawks recruit to get it back because the Raptors probably have better sense than to tamper with something that wasn’t broken.
