Houston Rockets announcer Ryan Hollins didn’t say anything wrong about Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick, but the phrasing came across as a little awkward. Hollins issued an apology Monday afternoon after a three-second clip from Sunday’s broadcast of the Rockets-Raptors game went viral. In the clip, Hollins says, “somebody got Dick in the face.” While the comment is humorous, there was no malicious intent—just an awkward outcome stemming from Dick’s name.
Late in the first half of the game, Dick was knocked to the floor after taking a forearm to the face while driving to the basket. Hollins was attempting to describe the incident to play-by-play voice Craig Ackerman when he said, “Somebody got Dick in the face, Craig. See if he’s okay. He’s taking his time on the way up. He got hit pretty good.” If Hollins had referred to any other player in the league, it likely would have gone unnoticed. However, no other player shares the surname Dick, making the brief clip comical and irresistible for social media, even though it was a harmless remark with no intention of going viral. Still, after seeing the clip spread, Hollins felt compelled to provide context.
https://t.co/NUfH4fkCXB pic.twitter.com/sd54kHAU0V
— Ryan Hollins (@TheRyanHollins) February 10, 2025
“When play stopped you will go to a replay upon the replay you could see the hit to the face as we explain why he stayed on the floor. Yes, after saying it you realize what you said and feel the childish embarrassment,” Hollins wrote. “We talk for over two hours, and there’s a 5-second clip running rampant; please gather context next time. For the rest of his career it’s just one of those names. Above all, if there’s anyone offended, I send my apologies.” Yes, it’s just one of those names—one that Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal will continue to have fun with, and one that some announcers might try to go viral on. Unfortunately for Ryan Hollins, he found himself in the latter category this week.
