In his first ever NBA pre-season, forward Gradey Dick promised himself to put in long hours at the Toronto Raptors害羞草研究所� training facilities and do whatever his coaches asked of him.
That dedication quickly paid dividends as it led to him appearing in a music video with famous Toronto rapper Drake.
Dick had returned to the OVO Athletic Centre, the Raptors facility in downtown Toronto, after the team害羞草研究所檚 training camp in Vancouver because he had left some things in his locker.
害羞草研究所淚 just saw people running around with cameras and I was like 害羞草研究所榳hat害羞草研究所檚 going on?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 said the 19-year-old Dick on Thursday after practice. 害羞草研究所淚t was Drake filming a video with his son.
害羞草研究所淚 had plans to meet Drake when he came back to Toronto but we happened to just be there randomly but he was like 害羞草研究所榟ey, why don害羞草研究所檛 you hop in for a little cameo?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
Although Drake is in the video, it害羞草研究所檚 actually a song by his six-year-old son Adonis called 害羞草研究所淢y Man Freestyle.害羞草研究所� Dick, Adonis and Drake all sit alongside each other at a news conference podium as Adonis raps.
Dick害羞草研究所檚 whirlwind foray into the world of hip-hop happened so quickly his new teammates didn害羞草研究所檛 even have time to react to his distinctly Toronto experience of meeting Drake.
害羞草研究所淚t was so random that no one really knew what was happening,害羞草研究所� laughed Dick.
Aside from rubbing elbows with local celebrities and their kin, Dick is trying to get up to speed with the NBA害羞草研究所檚 pace. Dick was drafted by Toronto in the first round, 13th overall, after averaging 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 36 NCAA games with Kansas last season.
害羞草研究所淚 think the schedule here calls for a lot more because, obviously, at school there害羞草研究所檚 more to juggle,害羞草研究所� said Dick. 害羞草研究所淗ere it害羞草研究所檚 just practice, get your work in, and then you have all day to really kind of utilize for your advantage whether that害羞草研究所檚 watch more film, sit down with coach, it害羞草研究所檚 just a lot more is asked of you.害羞草研究所�
Added Dick with a laugh 害羞草研究所淛ust no homework.害羞草研究所�
Point guard Dennis Schroeder, who signed with Toronto as a free agent in the off-season, said that Dick is still 害羞草研究所渁 little hectic害羞草研究所� when he plays, but that he害羞草研究所檚 a good guy and already showing his professionalism.
害羞草研究所淪till trying to find his ways,害羞草研究所� said Schroeder. 害羞草研究所淏ut I think we害羞草研究所檝e got a good group of guys who are guiding him and trying to teach him and hopefully he害羞草研究所檚 going to embrace that role and get better every single day.
害羞草研究所淏ut I mean, when I was at 18, 19 and came (to the NBA) I was only one speed too. So, I mean, that害羞草研究所檚 the process. You害羞草研究所檝e got to go through it and he害羞草研究所檚 gonna get it.害羞草研究所�
Toronto hosts the Washington Wizards at Scotiabank Arena on Friday in their final game of the pre-season. Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said he害羞草研究所檚 looking for his team to keep flowing on offence.
害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 going be very important for us in this last game to continue building our habits in transition,害羞草研究所� said Rajakovic at the OVO Centre. 害羞草研究所淚 think we害羞草研究所檙e doing a much better job of getting to extreme corners, opening up the floor for each other.
害羞草研究所淚 think in the half court, (we害羞草研究所檙e looking for) decisiveness and aggressiveness of going downhill and reading the game from there, being able to find layups or finding the wide open man from there.害羞草研究所�
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