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Josh Lewenberg: On a night in which Ingram, Barnes and Quickley combined for 34 points on 14-for-46 from the field and 1-for-14 from 3, Shead, Dick and Walter had 44 points on 14-28 FG/6-14 3P. Monster defensive effort from CMB, Ja'Kobe and Shead to fuel the 4th-quarter comeback.
Michael Grange: Tough win,121-119 by Raps over Portland. Barnes 28/7/7/2b; Quickley w 23/8a/5r on 9/11. Ingram 21. Dick w 14 off bench, CMB with 10&5. Shead with 5 steals, draws 2 offensive fouls. Sharpe with 23-3-3 for Portland. Raps improve to 15-7. Portland 8-13. Raps host Lakers on Thurs.
The NBA helped dish out some more gaming news this week, with Take-Two Interactive announcing the return of the 2K League. This is the esports effort focused on the NBA 2K series. 2K Sports and the NBA pulled the plug on the league in 2024, putting it on hiatus until bringing it back Monday. The revived league is starting with six teams: the Raptors, Celtics, Jazz, Grizzlies, Pistons and Wizards (we’ll get back to Washington later). Other NBA teams will field squads later on. Each squad consists of two content creators and an NBA player (such as the Raptors’ Gradey Dick and the Pistons’ Duncan Robinson), along with fans, competing in challenges and games. It’s going to add more social media elements to the standard esports formula, though it will still have matchups, tournaments and a championship, with teams earning points akin to a PGA Tour ranking. NBA Take-Two Media CEO Andrew Perlmutter showed me an example of a competition based off a TikTok trend with the loser, the Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr., calling an NBA teammate and offering them a compliment (I suggested it would be funnier with insults, but I doubt they’ll take me up on that consultation).
Per the new league description. “The 2KL breaks boundaries by inviting everyone to participate and will launch with six teams: Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards. Each team will be represented by a unique duo of creators and NBA players, including Zach 2K, BEARDABEAST, Kofie Yeboah, Gradey Dick, and Duncan Robinson.”
Michael Grange: What can you say. Raptors came to ATL and kicked ‘em. 138-118. And thats while shooting 6/25 from 3. Raps dominant paint and at rim. Barnes with 22/6/9. Barrett w 25/8/5. Dick w 21 off bench.
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But Gradey Dick can read the room, and he knows that to keep progressing in Year 3, he’s got to keep pushing. And like Walter, he's grown to like and even look forward to the challenge. “I mean, as an athlete, and especially at the level that we're at now, I think it's why we play the game, honestly,” Dick said, in reference to the level of intensity required to compete at practice and earn a meaningful role. “I mean, yeah, it's better to compete against other teams, but the day-in, day-out, going against each other, it's like, it's just like a kind of an addiction at this point.”
Dick’s approach is similar. “It's just really buying into your role, at the end of the day,” said Dick, who turns 22 next month. “And I knew we had pieces coming in with (Brandon Ingram), an amazing player, who is going to be on the court first … and knowing that they'll go into different rotations and whatnot. So if I'm called to be in second rotation, called to be in first rotation, whatever it may be, I just got to buy into my role. And I'm completely grateful to have the opportunity because, at the end of the day, it's basketball, and I’ve played long enough where I know what a team needs, and guys that try to play outside their role, that kind of kills your chemistry, and no one on this team is like that. I think that's what makes this team special.”
NBA star and Wichita native Gradey Dick made the trip back to his hometown this week. Spending the weekend hosting a youth basketball camp, Dick hosted his first-ever charity golf tournament on Monday. Over 130 golfers from across the country participated and contributed to the auction immediately after the event, which took place on the course
Doug Smith: I don’t know if it will happen but I do know there is mutual interest between Antetokounmpo and the Raptors. The wild card is the cost. But I also think the Raptors are uniquely placed to make an attractive offer that won’t ruin their franchise or roster. I would make the case that a logjam at the wings makes them deep enough that if they had to pay even two out of Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Ja’Kobe Walter, RJ Barrett, Jonathan Mogbo would still leave enough to fill out a pretty good team with promising young players still developing. Plus, they have all their picks, so giving a first-rounder every year for, say, four years, leaves enough.
Blake Murphy: Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl are both questionable Wednesday with the same MCP joint contusion on their right hands. Ja'Kobe Walter is out with right hip flexor tightness. Jamal Shead and Ochai Agbaji will rest. Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and Ulrich Chomche remain out.
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Josh Lewenberg: The Raptors are shutting Gradey Dick down for the rest of the season. He’s been out for a month with a knee injury and is still recovering. He’ll finish his sophomore season averaging 14.4 points (up from 8.5 as a rookie) on 41% FG & 35% 3P (down from 37%) in 54 games, all starts
Josh Lewenberg: Agbaji (ankle) is out of his walking boot and will start increasing his work but still not practicing. Mogbo has a nasal fracture. Out for at least a week and will wear a mask when he returns. Gradey Dick out at least 2 weeks. Battle (broken nose) and Temple (personal) are back
Michael Scotto: Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick sustained a hyperextended right knee, resulting in bone bruises. He will be re-evaluated after two weeks, team says.
