Good STUMP for you today! We’re talking about a great Thursday Night game, a CMC return, and the guy in the NBA you should know about for more than just his name! GOOD, GOOD, STUMP lined up today! Happy Friday to you all, these weeks have been flying by recently. Love the Glue Guy suggestions in the feedback form! Keep them coming! 👇️ 

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Today’s Trivia🧠

(answer at the bottom of the Stump!)

On This Day…

🏈 On this day in 1970, New Orleans Saints kicker Tom Dempsey hit a then NFL record 63 yard field goal. The record stood until 2013, when Matt Prater, then with the Denver Broncos, hit a 64 yarder.

The record now sits at 66 yards, set by Justin Tucker in 2021. Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubery hit one this season for 65 yards, which sits in second place as the longest kick in NFL history.

Today’s Stump Story…

🏀 This year’s Naz Reid…GRADEY DICK!

It’s no secret that the Stump has some magic JUJU when it comes to talking about awards. Last year, the boys were on Naz Reid before it was cool to be on Naz Reid. He went on to win 6th man of the year. This year, we’re talking Gradey Dick!

You would think that there isn’t much to talk about when it comes to the Toronto Raptors. They are 2-7 to start the season, and despite some close losses to some good teams, things just aren’t clicking early. Despite this, there is one surprise coming out of Toronto, and it’s 20-year-old Gradey Dick!

Gradey is now in his sophomore season in the NBA. Last year, he was drafted with the 13th overall pick out of Kansas. The Raptors sent him down to the G-League last November when they felt that a few games there would be best for his early development.

Well, he’s developed alright. 9 games into this season, he’s averaging 20 points per game off of 46% shooting. In the world of Luka’s, Tatum’s, and Jokic’s, we get lost in the crazy stat lines, but when a guy shows up and can score 20 points per game, that’s not shabby at all.

Listen, the main reason I was familiar with this guy was because of his name. Yeah, it’s ok, we can address the elephant in the room.

I mean, the name Gradey is a little unconventional!

Jokes aside that’s another reason I want to root for this guy. Can you imagine what he’s heard on the court since he was 8? He’s probably heard every line in the book! And he probably still does today. He responds by draining a three on your favorite player.

His usage is absolutely a little high right now in the absence of Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, but a shoutout to this guy was necessary!

The list of sophomores who have averaged 21 points per game on 60% true shooting in their first 8 games is a list of 9! It has Luka, D Wade, Ray Allen, Shaq, Pau Gasol, and now Gradey Dick. The guy is putting up numbers.

This is just a bookmark, we’ll come back to this in a month or two. But just keep an eye on Gradey Dick, and possibly a run to the league’s Most Improved Player!

Yesterday, In a Nutshell

🏈 After some SNOOZERS in Primetime, the Ravens and Bengals put on a show after a slow quarter and a half! The Bengals have now lost two close ones against the Bengals this season! It was a great part 2 of the Bucs-Chiefs game, as the Bengals had an opportunity to go for 2 to end the game and they did, but they failed! The Ravens defeated the Bengals, 35-34! Ja’Marr Chase had 250 yards and 3 TDs! 55 FANTASY POINTS! Congrats if you have him! The Ravens win another close one and move to 7-3!

⚽️ A massive day in the UEFA Europa and Conference league yesterday that was highlighted by some big time teams in action. Man United faced off against Paok Salonika, from the Greek Super League, and was able to win 2-0 thanks to two goals from rising star Amad. In the Conference League, Chelsea put up EIGHT goals and set a record to drown FC Noah from the Armenian Premier League. Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix both netted two goals for the boys in blue.

🏈 We often do the injury bug in this section and tell you about all of the players who are expected to miss time. Today, we’re going to talk about who’s BACK from injury. That would be one Mr. CMC, that’s right, Christian McCaffrey is back. The consensus No. 1 overall pick in just about every fantasy draft known to man is finally making his season debut this Sunday against the Bucs. He suffered bilateral Achilles tendinitis that followed a calf injury and has been out since Sept. 14th.

🏀 The Lakers officially made a move with Bronny James Jr. yesterday, as they assigned him to the G League South Bay team. This move was expected to come as the Lakers settle into the grind of the season. This move allows Bronny to play the extended minutes he so desperately needs as he continues to grow and develop as a basketball player. Expect to see Bronny up and down from the NBA roster as injuries happen, but for now he’ll be with the developmental squad.

💯Top Performers:

• 🏈 JaMarr Chase: 11 receptions, 254 yards, 3 TDs! 55 FANTASY POINTS!!!

• 🏀 Ant Edwards (MIN): 33 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, W

• 🏈 Katin Houser (ECU): 17/22, 343 yards, 5 TDs, 52 rush yards, TD!

• 🏀 Damian Lillard (MIL): 34 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds

Stump Top Plays❗️❗️ 

🏈 TYLAN WALLACE. 84 YARDS!

🏀 Wemby... OUTTA NOWHERE!

🏈 How does Lamar do things like this…?

💯 Full Scoreboards: MLB, Soccer, PGA, NFL, WNBA, NCAAF, NHL

Today’s Slate

*All times are ET*

🏀 NBA: Nets @ Celtics (7:30 PM), Warriors @ Cavs (7:30 PM), Suns @ Mavs (7:30 PM on ESPN), 76ers @ Lakers (10:00 PM on ESPN), full schedule

🏀 CBB (M): Army @ (7) Duke (6:00 PM), (9) UNC @ (1) Kansas (7:00 PM on ESPN2), (22) UCLA vs New Mexico (11:00 PM on CBSSN), full schedule

🏀 CBB (W): Southern Indiana @ (17) Louisville (7:00 PM), (21) Creighton @ South Dakota St (7:00 PM), (7) LSU @ NW State (8:00 PM), (10) Oklahoma vs Virginia (9:00 PM), full schedule

🏈 CFB: California @ Wake Forest (8:00 PM), Iowa @ UCLA (9:00 PM on FOX), Rice @ Memphis (9:00 PM on ESPN2), New Mexico @ SDSU (10:30 PM on FS1)

🏒  NHL: Red Wings @ Maple Leafs (7:00 PM), Penguins @ Capitals (7:30 PM), Wild @ Ducks (10:00 PM), Knights @ Kraken (10:00 PM), full schedule

Trivia Answer:

B. 2015 Golden State Warriors! The Warriors went on to lose the Finals that season to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Warriors won 73 games that year, finishing the regular season with only nine losses. That is the most wins in a season in NBA history.

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