Gradey Dick and Anthony Black made waves earlier this week with an infamous, NSFW jersey swap, and Dick was asked to explain himself at media availability Tuesday.
As a reporter started to say, “Gradey, we gotta ask you about the jersey swap from the other day,” Dick burst out laughing.
“That’s my guy. I’ve been playing against and with him since my middle school days,” Dick said.
Gradey Dick explained his jersey swap with Anthony Black, laughing that they had been playing basketball with or against each other since middle school. X / William Lou
Gradey Dick on why he swapped jerseys with Anthony Black:”That’s been my guy for a long time. Guys jersey swap with their boys, and that’s my friend.”Other jersey swaps planned?”If I played against them and they’re my guy, I’ll jersey swap with them. Nothing more to it.” pic.twitter.com/RcuuyBxbSB— William Lou (@william_lou) March 19, 2024
“That’s been my guy for a long time. Guys jersey swap with their boys. That’s my friend.”
Dick was asked if he has any other jersey swaps planned this season.
“If I played with them growing up, and they’re my guys, then I’ll jersey swap with them,” Dick said, continuing to smile from ear to ear.
Dick is a rookie on the Raptors after being selected 13th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Kansas.
Black was selected sixth overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Magic after playing at Arkansas.
Dick Grew up in Wichita, Kan., and Black in Duncansville, Texas.
The rookies swapped jerseys after the Magic defeated the Raptors 111-96 on Sunday, and certainly appeared to know that they were creating a risqué photo op.
The Magic initially posted a photo of the jersey exchange on X, before realizing the implications of the swap and deleting it.
Despite his team’s victory, Black had an uneventful evening, playing just three minutes in a reserve role.
Dick, on the other hand, got the start — his sixth in 47 game appearances — and notched 10 points plus an assist in 27 minutes of playing time.
Orlando is 40-28 and currently ranked fifth in the Eastern Conference, while Toronto is 23-45, ranked 12th in the conference and likely to miss the playoffs.