As soon as Gradey Dick and Anthony Black decided to swap jerseys with one another, they must have known what they were doing.
Sunday, the Orlando Magic defeated the Toronto Raptors 111-96. It was a game featuring appearances by two highly-rated rookies. Toronto’s Gradey Dick put up ten points and an assist in 27 minutes of action while Orlando’s Anthony Black scored two points in three minutes of action.
After the game, the two rookies met at midcourt and did a jersey swap. While a nice gesture, their last names, when put side-by-side, told a certain story that was impossible for Bally Sports Florida audiences to ignore.
They knew… pic.twitter.com/i2fgiRl8oQ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 18, 2024
Did they know what they were doing? If you ask us, when you have a last name like Gradey does, you don’t go into any situation like this without understanding the full ramifications of what you’re about to do.
Certainly, basketball fans noticed.
Gen Z joins the NBA, exhibit 1 pic.twitter.com/baHVoA62fa
— SB Nation (@SBNation) March 18, 2024
Gradey must be stopped. https://t.co/CMJLArUiVl
— Soren (@soren_flyin) March 18, 2024
Greatest TV moment of 2024 https://t.co/zs1iPd1qnS
— Gabriel Lopez (@LVBeerman) March 18, 2024
https://twitter.com/SeanStangland/status/1769524258370175461
Credit due to the commentators for somehow holding their tongues. There’s no doubt that they saw what was on the monitors and found the strength within themselves to say nothing.
Just know the commentator wanted to say something
— Jeff/El Jefe (@jpsfg) March 18, 2024
Having people giggle at this name is par for the course for Gradey Dick. Earlier this season, New Orleans Pelicans analyst Antonio Daniels couldn’t stop laughing when he realized his name.
https://twitter.com/PelsFilmRoom/status/1754682732460790229?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1754682732460790229%7Ctwgr%5E813ddb33002a7020c0962c521aa930eba4224a28%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fawfulannouncing.com%2Fnba%2Fnew-orleans-pelicans-analyst-giggling-gradey-dick.html
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.