Toronto Raptors: Who Is Dwight Buycks?

The NBA Summer League offers an opportunity for recent college graduates and NBA D-League players to showcase their skills for teams in hopes of landing a contract. These are players with names that casual fans won’t recognize, having little to no idea who they are. When an unknown name comes up, fans like to know who these players are.

This is especially true when it is your favorite team that signs one of these unknown players. Toronto Raptors fans have that problem this season in trying to figure out who Dwight Buycks is.

Now the question for Raptors fans is: Who is Dwight Buycks?

Buycks is currently slotted ahead of D.J. Augustin for the backup point guard position behind Kyle Lowry. He’s coming to Toronto after playing for the Raptors as well as the Oklahoma City Thunder during 2013 Summer League play.

An undrafted free agent in 2011, Buycks  was acquired by the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA D-League. The 66ers are an affiliate of the Thunder. Buycks went on to average 15.1 points while shooting 49 percent from the field in 28 games during the 2011-12 season.  Buycks went on to be named NBA D-League All-Rookie First Team.

After his stint in the D-League, Buycks went overseas to play for BCM Gravelines where he sustained another 15.3 points per game average. If anything, Buycks showed that he can be a consistent scorer and a solid contributor. He also maintained 50 percent shooting overall, another consistent trait that should get Raptors fans at least a little bit excited for Buycks’ arrival. He also took home the French basketball league MVP award in 2013.

One of the main reasons Raptors fans may have never heard of Buycks is because while he played his college basketball at Marquette, he was only there for one season and primarily came off the bench (he spent his first two years at junior college).  He only started 11 games and averaged just over six per points per game. Those aren’t the kind of figures to get NBA scouts excited, which is why he hasn’t hit an NBA roster yet.

The Thunder brought Buycks back to play during their Summer League team in Orlando. Buycks averaged over nine points per game while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field. Buycks was so impressive that the Raptors offered him a contract right after the Orlando portion of Summer League play completed. He was offered a two-year contract to be the back-up point guard for the Raptors, which Buycks quickly accepted.

Sure, it’s not a lot to go off of, but the fact Toronto was willing to offer Buycks a chance to win the back-up role behind Lowry should say how impressed they were by him.  If you’re not completely convinced about Buycks, feel free to check out this highlight reel from Buycks’ play during Summer League.

Toronto is taking a shot on a guy with zero NBA experience. If the gamble pays off, they look like geniuses. If it doesn’t work out, then they took a shot  on a guy nobody else would. Buycks is bound to be determined and show Raptors fans that he’s worth the risk.

Keep an eye on Dwight Buycks this season as he could be a key contributor to the Raptors offense off the bench.

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