In his first ever NBA pre-season, forward Gradey Dick promised himself to put in long hours at the Toronto RaptorsB次元官网网址� training facilities and do whatever his coaches asked of him.

That dedication quickly paid dividends as it led to him appearing in a music video with famous Toronto rapper Drake.

Dick had returned to the OVO Athletic Centre, the Raptors facility in downtown Toronto, after the teamB次元官网网址檚 training camp in Vancouver because he had left some things in his locker.

B次元官网网址淚 just saw people running around with cameras and I was like B次元官网网址榳hatB次元官网网址檚 going on?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said the 19-year-old Dick on Thursday after practice. B次元官网网址淚t was Drake filming a video with his son.

B次元官网网址淚 had plans to meet Drake when he came back to Toronto but we happened to just be there randomly but he was like B次元官网网址榟ey, why donB次元官网网址檛 you hop in for a little cameo?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Although Drake is in the video, itB次元官网网址檚 actually a song by his six-year-old son Adonis called B次元官网网址淢y Man Freestyle.B次元官网网址� Dick, Adonis and Drake all sit alongside each other at a news conference podium as Adonis raps.

DickB次元官网网址檚 whirlwind foray into the world of hip-hop happened so quickly his new teammates didnB次元官网网址檛 even have time to react to his distinctly Toronto experience of meeting Drake.

B次元官网网址淚t was so random that no one really knew what was happening,B次元官网网址� laughed Dick.

Aside from rubbing elbows with local celebrities and their kin, Dick is trying to get up to speed with the NBAB次元官网网址檚 pace. Dick was drafted by Toronto in the first round, 13th overall, after averaging 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 36 NCAA games with Kansas last season.

B次元官网网址淚 think the schedule here calls for a lot more because, obviously, at school thereB次元官网网址檚 more to juggle,B次元官网网址� said Dick. B次元官网网址淗ere itB次元官网网址檚 just practice, get your work in, and then you have all day to really kind of utilize for your advantage whether thatB次元官网网址檚 watch more film, sit down with coach, itB次元官网网址檚 just a lot more is asked of you.B次元官网网址�

Added Dick with a laugh B次元官网网址淛ust no homework.B次元官网网址�

Point guard Dennis Schroeder, who signed with Toronto as a free agent in the off-season, said that Dick is still B次元官网网址渁 little hecticB次元官网网址� when he plays, but that heB次元官网网址檚 a good guy and already showing his professionalism.

B次元官网网址淪till trying to find his ways,B次元官网网址� said Schroeder. B次元官网网址淏ut I think weB次元官网网址檝e got a good group of guys who are guiding him and trying to teach him and hopefully heB次元官网网址檚 going to embrace that role and get better every single day.

B次元官网网址淏ut I mean, when I was at 18, 19 and came (to the NBA) I was only one speed too. So, I mean, thatB次元官网网址檚 the process. YouB次元官网网址檝e got to go through it and heB次元官网网址檚 gonna get it.B次元官网网址�

Toronto hosts the Washington Wizards at Scotiabank Arena on Friday in their final game of the pre-season. Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said heB次元官网网址檚 looking for his team to keep flowing on offence.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 going be very important for us in this last game to continue building our habits in transition,B次元官网网址� said Rajakovic at the OVO Centre. B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檙e doing a much better job of getting to extreme corners, opening up the floor for each other.

B次元官网网址淚 think in the half court, (weB次元官网网址檙e looking for) decisiveness and aggressiveness of going downhill and reading the game from there, being able to find layups or finding the wide open man from there.B次元官网网址�

READ ALSO: