Kansas Star Gradey Dick Points to God Ahead of NBA Draft
By Movieguide® Contributor
In his announcement that he would declare for the 2023 NBA draft, Kansas player Gradey Dick put his faith before anything else.
“First and foremost, none of this would be possible without God,” he wrote. “I also wouldn’t be in this position without the help from my coaches, teachers, friends, and most importantly, my family.”
Dick shot 40.3% from three in his one year at Kansas and was second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.1 points per game. He was also third on the team in rebounding (5.1) and third in steals (52).
Because of his impressive stats, along with his 6-foot-8 wingspan, many experts place him within the top 16 draft picks and most mock drafts have him going towards the end of the lottery.
For Dick, playing in the NBA would be a dream come true. Much of the reason he chose to play for Kansas was to prepare himself for professional basketball.
“When you’re at a place like that, it definitely puts a target on your back in a way but also gets you prepared for that next level, and that’s exactly what went into my choice to make that decision to go there,” Dick recently told Sports Illustrated.
As he thinks about entering into the NBA, Dick is unconcerned with the team that he ends up with. For him what’s more important is fitting into the program and helping his team however he can.
“I’m going to go into any organization, any city, and really just buy into the team,” he said. “I’m the type of player where I honestly don’t care what my role is. If they give the role and they tell me what to do, I’m just going to go there and try to perfect it as best I can. I’ve never been the player to kind of, you know, play bigger than myself.”
Even more important than that, is that his faith stays central to his identity.
“I was given, fortunately, all these blessings in my life, and that’s kind of my hand, and I’m trying to do the best I can do with it and glorify God while I’m doing it,” he told SLAM last year.
Movieguide® previously reported on the NBA Draft:
After a run to the Final Four in the 2022 March Madness NCAA tournament, Griffin became the fifth Duke basketball player to enter the June draft.
Griffin averaged 10.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game while shooting 44.7% from 3-point range.
“I know a lot of kids grow up dreaming they could wear that Duke uniform and play in Cameron Indoor Stadium,” Griffin said in a recent press release. “I was one of those kids growing up, and I am so grateful I had that opportunity.”
He continued: “As I declare for the 2022 NBA Draft, I am filled with gratitude. It was an honor to play for Duke and represent The Brotherhood. It was a dream come true. My experiences have helped prepare me for this moment and I am proud to know I will be a Blue Devil for life.”
Last year was the final year of coaching for Duke icon and head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Krzyzewski praised the young 6-foot-6 forward and said Griffin would be a perfect fit in the NBA.
“AJ was one of the best shooters in the nation and his skillset is exactly what NBA teams are looking for. He is a remarkable young man that comes from a beautiful family and we’re certainly going to miss them,” Krzyzewski said. “AJ showed up every day with a smile on his face and his positive energy was infectious. We appreciate everything that he did for our program and know that great things will happen for him.”
However, Griffin’s Christian faith stood out most to Krzyzewski over the last season.
“What AJ has brought to our program is a great belief in God,” Krzyzewski said. “The team has started a Bible study, and it’s because of him. He asked the guys to do it. He’s not nervous, he has it together more than most of us and I’m proud of him for it.”
