Raptors rookie Gradey Dick credits family for confidence, basketball ability

Gradey Dick moved his dad to tears on Monday.

The newest Toronto Raptors sharpshooter, chosen 13th overall in the NBA Draft last Thursday, visited his new basketball home over the weekend and was grilled by reporters after a morning workout with head coach Darko Rajakoviç at the team's practice facility.

The 19-year-old Dick was asked if he's had much contact with Raptors guard Fred VanVleet, who played collegiately in Dick's hometown for the Wichita State Shockers.

He said he first met VanVleet as a youngster while working at the school's summer camp. He added the last piece of memorabilia he would glance at as he left his bedroom was a poster-sized blow-up of a newspaper story on VanVleet with the headline "Undrafted" — a gift from his father.

The story had struck a chord with Dick's dad, who wanted his son to gain motivation from VanVleet's basketball journey.

Dick left little doubt about how important family is to him. The confident six-foot-eight, 205-pound teenager credits Bart for his on-court demeanour, the importance of body language and other tricks of the trade.

The new Raptors guard/forward also mentioned how much he learned from watching his older brothers Riley and Brodey and older sister Kelsey on and off the court.

"We're a close-knit family," Dick said.

Dick drew plenty of attention on draft night when he stepped on stage wearing a red-sequined jacket. He explained the outfit was a tribute to Kansas's most famous fictional character, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, and her red shoes.

He also revealed that he entertained wearing an even more vivid ensemble.

"I could have gone a little crazier," Dick said. "I kind of toned it down, but it still ended up pretty loud."

He toned down his style on Monday,