Did he say ‘Mr. Big Dick Energy?’: Raptors announcer makes fun of Gradey Dick during rookie’s first start for Toronto… before NBA team insists that’s NOT what he said!
- The Raptors have a 5-6 record and are the No. 11 seed in the East after the midweek loss
- Dick, 19, finished with 11 points at the end of Wednesday’s game in Toronto
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Before the team’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Toronto Raptors announcer hilariously teased NBA rookie Gradey Dick in the arena, calling him “Mr. Big Big Energy’ in the player’s very first start, although fans debate whether that is actually the case on social media.
Raptors announcer Mark Strong was the man behind the microphone as he shared the starting lineups for both teams Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
“With number one, Mr. Big Big Energy!” he shouted into the microphone, before saying Dick’s full name.
The video of perhaps the best part of the midweek match then went viral online, as some fans believe Strong said, “Mr. Big cock energy!’
The Toronto Raptors have told Mail Sport that they categorically deny that their in-arena announcer made fun of Dick’s name by calling him ‘Mr. NDE!’
The Raptors’ Gradey Dick finished with 11 points and two assists against the Bucks on Wednesday
“That’s wild,” commented one user who thought Dick was being introduced as “Mr. NDE!’ on X, formerly known as Twitter.
‘Aren’t there a lot of little children there? It seems inappropriate,” said someone else who felt the same way.
“Blame his ancestors lol,” one fan commented, placing the blame on Dick’s legacy and not the announcer.
“Trade him to Dallas and he could be introduced as Big D in Big D,” another person shared.
The Bucks proved to be too much for the Raptors on Wednesday night, winning 128-112
Dick finished the game against Milwaukee, a 128-112 loss to Toronto, with 11 points on 2 of 10 shooting and two assists in 26 minutes of action.
The 19-year-old is averaging 4.4 points per game so far this season. Toronto has a 5-6 overall record ahead of Friday’s NBA In-Season Tournament game against the Boston Celtics.
The Raptors are the 11th seed in the NBA Eastern Conference as of Wednesday.
Dick, who is the 13th pick in this year’s NBA draft class, also made a surprise appearance in a music video for a song produced by Drake’s son, Adonis, called “My Man Freestyle!”