The Toronto Raptors sit fifth in the Eastern Conference at 32-23, and second-year wing Gradey Dick believes the group’s on-court growth starts with its off-court bond.
In an interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, the 22-year-old addressed whether the broader NBA audience is behind on recognizing what Toronto is building.
“I don’t know if I’d necessarily say they’re late,” Dick said. “With all the behind-the-scenes content on YouTube, people are starting to see our different personalities. But when you really pay attention, you see how close our bond is. That chemistry definitely translates from off the court to on the court.”
That cohesion has mattered for a roster headlined by Brandon Ingram (21.8 points), Scottie Barnes (19.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists) and Immanuel Quickley (17.0 points, 6.1 assists).
Dick opened the season as a full-time starter before shifting into a reserve role, appearing in 55 games and averaging 6.5 points in 16.1 minutes. He is shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from three while converting 87.3 percent from the free-throw line.
As a rookie in 2023-24, the Kansas product averaged 8.5 points and shot 36.5 percent from beyond the arc in 60 appearances. He followed that with 14.4 points per game in 2024-25 while starting all 54 contests, showing the scoring jump that often defines a young shooter’s development curve.
Dick credits Hall of Famer Reggie Miller as a stylistic influence.
“Growing up, I watched a lot of film on Reggie Miller—specifically his release point and how he moved,” he said. “But honestly, I was really taught by my mom. She played a year in Japan before the WNBA existed, and she helped me a lot with my shooting mechanics. I just try to take bits and pieces from Reggie’s game and implement them into mine.”
Before reaching the NBA, the Wichita native starred at University of Kansas. He cited Wayne Simien Jr., Conner Frankamp and Andrew Wiggins among his favorite Jayhawks.
Dick also reflected on his first NBA experience, which came at INTRUST Bank Arena during a preseason game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto.
“As a fan? It was probably my first-ever NBA event,” he said. “It was actually the Thunder against the Raptors. I think Darko [Rajakovic] was even an assistant with the Thunder at the time, so looking back, that’s a pretty cool full-circle moment.”
