Gradey Dick Selected No. 13 By Toronto in 2023 NBA Draft
Kansas Jayhawks guard Gradey Dick was selected No. 13 overall by the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday night.
The selection gave the Jayhawks a first-round pick for the fourth straight draft, dating back to the selection of center Udoka Azubuike at No. 27 overall in 2020.
The 6-foot-8 guard was selected to the All-Big 12 Second Team in 2022-23, as well as the All-Big 12 Freshman Team, and All-Big 12 Newcomer Team.
He finished his one season at KU averaging 14.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game during the regular season. He averaged 13 points and 9 rebounds in two NCAA Tournament games. He shot 40.3 percent from the 3-point line for the season.
When he declared, he surrendered his remaining eligibility, as many projected him as a lottery pick. He joined the draft along with four-year player Jalen Wilson, who had one season of eligibility remaining thanks to a COVID waiver. One other Kansas player, Kevin McCullar Jr., opted to return after declaring for the NBA Draft.
Dick continues a long tradition of first-round picks for the Jayhawks. Thirty-eight other Kansas players have been taken in the first round of the NBA Draft, dating back to Clyde Lovellette in 1952, who was taken No. 10 overall by the Minneapolis Lakers.
San Antonio selected France’s Victor Wembanyama No. 1 overall. At No. 2, Charlotte selected Alabama’s Brandon Walker. At No. 3, Portland selected the G League Ignite’s Scoot Henderson. At No. 4, Houston selected the Overtime Elite’s Amen Thompson. At No. 5, Detroit selected the Overtime Elite’s Ausar Thompson. Amen and Ausar are twin brothers.
At No. 6, the Orlando Magic took Arkansas’ Anthony Black. At No. 7, the Indiana Pacers selected Bilal Coulibaly of France. At No. 8 the Washington Wizards selected Houston’s Jarace Walker. At No. 9 the Utah Jazz selected UCF’s Taylor Hendricks. At No. 10 the Dallas Mavericks selected Kentucky’s Cason Wallace (who was selected for Oklahoma City as part of a trade).
At No. 11, Orlando selected Michigan’s Jett Howard. At No. 12, Oklahoma City selected Duke’s Dereck Lively II (who was selected for Dallas as part of a trade).
