Gradey Dick followed a season of regression with two stronger performances this week, and he credits defensive focus and extra repetition for the turnaround. Dick scored 15 points, including three three-pointers, with seven rebounds in Toronto’s 121-117 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, after a 21-point, 11-rebound effort in Wednesday’s 115-101 win over the Indiana Pacers.
The recent back-to-back showings have come amid a difficult scoring year. Dick entered Friday averaging 6.4 points per game, shooting 41.1 per cent from the field and 29.7 per cent from three, down from the 14.4 points per game he averaged last season.
Two games that matter
Toronto has been looking for consistent offence from its young wings, and Dick’s performances against Indiana and Los Angeles provided a reminder of his scoring ceiling. Wednesday’s outing was the first double-double of his NBA career. Friday’s game extended the streak and showed more of the shotmaking that made him a first-round pick out of Kansas in 2023.
How he is approaching the slump
Dick described his response to the slump in simple terms: put more shots up and lean into what has worked for him historically. He said focusing on defence helps him stay mentally present and build momentum he can carry into his shooting.
If you’re worrying about what other people are saying, then that’s just only going to be worse. They’re not in your position. They’re not in the NBA. I feel like, even though it’s my third year, I’ve been playing basketball long enough as a shooter to know what works for me and to get through it you just have to put more shots up.
Gradey Dick
Dick emphasised routine and repetition as his corrective. He said he focuses on hitting the exact same shot more and more, and that during games he deliberately keeps himself engaged on defence to stay one step ahead of the play and into his offensive rhythm.
I feel like when I’ve just been locked in, I’m talking straight away, sometimes just yelling out stuff that doesn’t even really involve the play, but it keeps me focused on the defensive side of it. I feel like when I’m one step ahead and I’m pushing into my rhythm, into my offensive side, more defence, whatever it may be, I’m just more present.
Gradey Dick
Teammates have noticed
Members of the Raptors have pointed to the same signs of progress. Jamal Shead highlighted Dick’s shot selection and increased activity without the ball as reasons his scoring looks more reliable than earlier this season.
Honestly, I love the fact that Gradey’s starting to play a little better because he’s been taking the same shots that he’s been taking all year, the same shots that he was taking and making last year. He’s been confident, he’s trusted his work, and he’s getting active on the defensive end. He’s finding new ways. He’s screening, he’s rolling, he’s just finding new ways to impact winning.
Jamal Shead
That defensive hustle has earned Dick more minutes in those two games and helped keep him involved when scoring chances were limited. Coaches often value that kind of two-way engagement, especially from young players still defining their role.
Context from his first two seasons
Drafted in 2023 after a high-profile college career at Kansas, Dick arrived in Toronto with a reputation as a pure shooter. His rookie numbers reflected that promise: 8.5 points per game on 42.5 per cent shooting from the field and 36.5 per cent from three. He increased his usage in his second season, averaging 14.4 points while shooting 41 per cent overall and 35 per cent from long range.
This season’s dip in three-point percentage to under 30 per cent has affected his role. He has not started this year after making 54 starts a season ago, and his minutes have been reduced as the coaching staff balances lineup options.
Where he goes from here
Dick’s path back to consistency will likely be incremental. The immediate indicators are clear: keep taking the high-quality shots he has confidence in, stay engaged on defence and maintain the confidence-building routines that produced last week’s performances. If those elements hold, the minutes and shot opportunities should follow.
- Recent games: 21 points, 11 rebounds vs Indiana; 15 points, 3 threes vs Clippers
- Current season averages entering Friday: 6.4 points, 41.1% FG, 29.7% 3PT
- Rookie season (2023): 8.5 PPG, 42.5% FG, 36.5% 3PT
- Second season: 14.4 PPG, 41% FG, 35% 3PT
Dick and the Raptors are at a point where small adjustments matter. The team gets a different player when he combines defensive focus with the shot mechanics that made him a first-round selection. The coming weeks will show whether the two-game run is a reset or a brief correction in a longer uneven season.
