TORONTO – Gradey Dick is aware of that many Toronto Raptors followers have been annoyed along with his taking pictures this season, however he’s additionally been in basketball lengthy sufficient to know methods to work by means of it.
Dick had 15 factors, together with three three-pointers, and 7 rebounds within the Raptors 121-117 extra time loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, his second consecutive stable efficiency for Toronto. Dick had 21 factors and 11 rebounds — the primary double-double of his profession — on Wednesday within the Raptors’ 115-101 win over the Indiana Pacers.
“When you’re worrying about what different persons are saying, then that’s simply solely going to be worse,” stated Dick. “They’re not in your place. They’re not within the NBA.
“I really feel like, though it’s my third 12 months, I’ve been taking part in basketball lengthy sufficient as a shooter to know what works for me and to get by means of it you simply should put extra photographs up.”
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The 2 video games have been a vivid spot in a disappointing season for Dick.
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A shooter’s shooter when he was drafted by Toronto out of Kansas in 2023, Dick averaged 8.5 factors per sport on 42.5 per cent field-goal taking pictures and 36.5 per on his three-point makes an attempt in his rookie season. He performed extra minutes and acquired up extra photographs final season, averaging 14.4 factors, 41 per cent on discipline objectives and 35 per cent on threes.
However heading into Friday’s sport, he was averaging 6.4 factors on a 41.1 field-goal share and 29.7 per cent three-point taking pictures this season. That regression has led to diminished taking part in time and no begins a season after he was within the lineup at opening tipoff 54 occasions.
“For me personally, it’s simply taking pictures the very same shot an increasing number of,” stated Dick on how he can repair his offensive woes. “I really feel like, as a shooter, if slumps occur, otherwise you’re lacking some photographs right here and there in video games, you’ve simply acquired to place extra work in, see it going by means of the outlet on the finish of the day.”
His teammates have seen that effort.
“Actually, I like the truth that Gradey’s beginning to play a little bit higher as a result of he’s been taking the identical photographs that he’s been taking all 12 months, the identical photographs that he was taking and making final 12 months,” stated level guard Jamal Shead. “He’s been assured, he’s trusted his work, and he’s getting energetic on the defensive finish.
“He’s discovering new methods. He’s screening, he’s rolling, he’s simply discovering new methods to impression successful.”
Dick stated that he’s making an attempt to remain mentally current on defence in order that he can construct momentum to hold over to his offence.
“I really feel like once I’ve simply been locked in, I’m speaking right away, generally simply yelling out stuff that doesn’t even actually contain the play, however it retains me targeted on the defensive aspect of it,” stated Dick. “I really feel like once I’m one step forward and I’m pushing into my rhythm, into my offensive aspect, extra defence, no matter it might be, I’m simply extra current.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 17, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
