Grady Dick is a 6’8″ freshman guard from Wichita, Kansas. The young sharpshooter has been moving up draft boards lately. Will the 19-year-old be a lottery pick?
Gradey Dick 2023 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Gradey Dick threw his name into the NBA Draft hat after just one season with the Kansas Jayhawks. And in his one season wearing blue and red, he showcased plenty of moments that showed he was ready for the next level. Dick had big nights against top competition in college, scoring 20 or more against the likes of Baylor, Texas, Iowa State, and Indiana.
In the 2022-2023 season, Dick averaged 14.1 ppg and 5.1 rpg. He shot 40% from beyond the arc and 85.4% from the foul line. The young guard started 36 games and played 32.7 minutes per contest.
Strengths
Dick’s scoring is the primary strength of the 19-year-old. He can score on all three levels. From slashing and cutting to the mid-range to behind the arc, the Kansas native can do it all.
In the 2022-2023 season, he shot an impressive 40.3% from three, which will raise the eyebrow of any NBA scout, and he has good size to go along with it.
He measures out to be six feet and eight inches tall, and he has a plethora of guard skills to pair with his small forward stature.
His size and scoring are what will be his highlighted strengths when he first steps onto the NBA hardwood. And all things considered, these strengths should be able to transfer over to the next level with little to no issue.
Weaknesses
His playmaking and defense will be two things that can potentially hold him back from developing into a superb NBA player.
In 2022-2023 Dick only averaged 1.7 apg. He had a significant role in being a scorer for Bill Self and the Jayhawks, so this could have had an impact on his low assist average. Still, Dick will need to improve in this department, as he will need to find other ways to impact the game other than just throwing the ball in the basket.
Like many of the other prospects in the draft, his defense will be a call for concern. But with his size, athleticism, and basketball IQ he should be able to guard at the next level eventually. It will just take time.
NBA Player Comparison
Zach Lavine. Dick’s playstyle when it comes to scoring is very similar to Lavine’s. They can both score at all three levels, and both shoot a high percentage from three. And although Lavine’s athleticism ranks toward the top of the NBA, Dick also has above-average athleticism to match his scoring ability. And he uses it in a similar way. They both are able to use their athleticism when making moves toward the basket and when gaining space to get off a jumper.
If Dick can translate his scoring to the next level and become a solid defender, he could one day be an all-star caliber player just like Lavine.
NBA Draft Projection
Lottery or mid-first round.
