Daniel Gafford might not be a household name, but he has played a big role in the Dallas Mavericks’ climb to the NBA playoffs and, hopefully, to the NBA Finals.
Gafford, 25, is a center and power forward born in El Dorado, Arkansas, on October 1, 1998. Gafford played college basketball at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas, from 2017 to 2019. The now-25-year-old reportedly skipped the 2019 National Invitation Tournament to prepare for the 2019 NBA Draft, where the Chicago Bulls drafted him with the 38th overall pick in the second round.
Here’s what you need to know about the Mavericks’ big man Daniel Gafford.
Daniel Gafford’s NBA Career So Far
Daniel Gafford is a versatile professional basketball player who can play both center and power forward. Gafford, an Arkansas native and an Arkansas Razorbacks alum, might be a journeyman center and power forward to you. However, Gafford’s tenure in Dallas, Texas has arguably been good so far, as he has been showing the Dallas Mavericks’ trade for him has been paying off.
The Washington Wizards traded Daniel Gafford to the Dallas Mavericks for Richaun Holmes and NBA Draft compensation on February 8, 2024. Gafford had a three-year tenure with the Wizards from 2021 to 2024 after an initial, two-year stint with the Chicago Bulls and their NBA G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, from 2019 to 2021. He recorded a rebound in his NBA debut with Chicago in a 108-84 to the Toronto Raptors on October 26, 2019. His impact has improved over the course of his NBA career.
Daniel Gafford’s NBA Career Is Maturing in Dallas
The Dallas Mavericks are far from a perfect NBA team. They’ve made some questionable decisions in the past. But they were right when they signed Daniel Gafford. Gafford is arguably a solid NBA trade deadline acquisition. He has reportedly helped change the Mavericks locker room culture while turning around the Mavericks’ regular season and postseason.
The Mavericks reportedly saw room for improvement, and they strengthened their frontcourt when they signed Daniel Gafford and power forward P.J. Washington in separate trades. Like Gafford, Washington has been thriving in Dallas. Washington has also been leaning on his faith as he continues to grow as an NBA player. Both of the Mavericks’ big men seemed to be worth the money and time.
Fun Facts About Daniel Gafford
Tall runs in the Gafford family. That being said, Daniel Gafford, who stands at 6-foot-10, isn’t the only one who’s tall. His parents, Wayne Gafford and Teresa Frazier, are 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-3, respectively. He reportedly inherited athletic genes from his parents, who are tall and athletic. He also has four siblings.
Daniel Gafford reportedly doesn’t put a lot of thought into fashion compared to other NBA players. Gafford has said in the past that he tries to keep his style “simple” while looking “nice” with designer brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, etc. And, when it comes to his streetwear outfits, he pretty much just pays attention to the latest trends and bases his outfits on the namesake trends.
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