Former KU Jayhawks guard Gradey Dick benefits from hustle play by a past Kansas forward

Former Kansas basketball guard Gradey Dick scored 18 points in the first half en route to 22 points in the Toronto Raptors’ 94-90 loss to the Detroit Pistons in NBA 2K24 Summer League action Wednesday in Las Vegas.

Dick, a 6-foot-8 Wichita native who was taken No. 13 overall by Toronto in the 2023 NBA Draft, hit 8 of 19 shots. He was 6-of-12 in the first half and 2-of-7 in the second. Dick went 2-for-10 from three-point range with seven rebounds, three assists and four turnovers in 31 minutes. He was 4-of-4 from the line.

Dick, who has scored 43 points in three summer league games for a 14.3 points per game average, has converted 5 of 22 threes for 22.7%. Overall he has made 16 of 44 shots for 36.4%.

“Dick’s buckets came in every kind,” wrote Aaron Rose of SI.com. “His release looked lightning quick and smooth. He connected off the dribble, on the drive, as an off-ball shooter, and even flipped in a sky-hook late in the third. He’ll be inconsistent this season because he’s a rookie and a shooter, but Wednesday showed what Dick can be when it’s all clicking, and that offensive creativity is certainly something Toronto could use even if the game didn’t end the way the Raptors would have hoped.”

Former KU forward David McCormack scored two points and grabbed six rebounds with two blocks for the Raptors in 14 minutes. The 6-foot-10 native of Norfolk Virginia who is a free agent after playing in Turkey in 2022-23, went 0-for-4 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line.

McCormack was involved in a great hustle play that led to a layup by Dick.

McCormack leaped out of bounds near halfcourt to save the basketball, then directed the ball to Dick late in the third quarter. Dick dribbled once behind his back, then charged up the middle where he put a spin move on Detroit’s Buddy Boeheim in the lane and completed a layup.

McCormack did not play in the Raptors’ summer opener then scored five points and grabbed four rebounds while playing 10 minutes in Sunday’s game against Cleveland.

Former Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell, who was signed to a two-way contract by Toronto after not being selected in the NBA Draft, scored nine points on 2-of-13 shooting (0-for-5 from three-point range) with six assists against four turnovers while playing 30 minutes in Wednesday’s defeat.

Marcus Garrett has highlight-reel dunk

Former KU guard Marcus Garrett scored five points on 2-of-5 shooting in the New York Knicks’ 82-80 overtime victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday in Vegas.

Garrett, 6-5 from Dallas who is a free agent after playing in the G League last season, was 1-for-1 from three. He dished five assists with four rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes. The 24-year-old Garrett had 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the Knicks’ loss to the Sixers on Friday. He had four rebounds, three assists and a turnover in 21 minutes in that game. Garrett had three points on 1-of-7 shooting in 19 minutes versus Brooklyn on Sunday.

Garrett had one of the most spectacular individual plays Wednesday. He grabbed a long defensive rebound off a three-point miss at quarter court and took off down the middle, rifling home a slam dunk over Malcolm Hill of the Magic.

“Marcus Garrett drops the HAMMER,” the New York Knicks tweeted.

Azubuike accurate from field

Former KU forward Udoka Azubuike scored eight points on 4-of-5 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds with two steals in 19 minutes in Boston’s 95-90 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday in Vegas.

Azubuike, a 6-11, 23-year-old free agent and former first-round draft pick who spent his first three years in the NBA with the Utah Jazz, has converted 14 of 16 shot attempts in three games for the Celtics in Vegas. He was 7-for-7 and scored 14 points against Washington and 3-of-4 for six points against Miami.

Agbaji has spectacular block

Former KU guard Ochai Agbaji, who was questionable leading up to the game because of lower-back tightness, scored 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting (3-of-9 from three-point range), with seven rebounds, two assists and five turnovers in Utah’s 96-91 win over Denver on Wednesday. Agbaji played 32 minutes.

Agbaji also had a spectacular individual highlight Wednesday. He chased down Armaan Franklin and blocked the former Virginia player’s breakaway layup try in the third quarter.