On Sunday night, the Toronto Raptors, led by rookie Gradey Dick, travelled to Orlando to face their rivals in the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic. The Magic won this game against Toronto, as Paolo Banchero, a standout second-year player, scored 29 points to lead Orlando to a 111-96 victory over the Raptors.
When the players lined up the two jerseys side by side, some users on the social networking platform X thought it was funny how the names lined up.
Putting aside their middle school humour, Anthony Black and Gradey Dick have both contributed well to their teams this season. Grady Dick started his rookie season with little playing time, but he has since earned some significant minutes in Toronto’s rotation. In response, he has developed into the intriguing athlete and dependable three-point shooter that the Raptors had hoped he would be coming out of Kansas, where he played one season.
Anthony Black has fluctuated in and out of the starting lineup for Orlando, a team that is attempting to secure a top-six Eastern Conference seed and formally secure a postseason berth for the first time since the 2020 Bubble Season.
Either way, it’s good to see both of the rookies acting with dignity.
