Daniel Gafford ☆ Follow

Starts 3 of 3 games · 8th on DAL in minutes · Rotation role

Bars: minutes in his last 3 games · numbers: points

Situational splits: turn on Prediction tools.

Every situation, with four seasons of history →

No reporter post or news story has named him yet this season; everything below is from podcasts.

• Podcast Nick Angstadt (Locked On Mavs) (reported), via Locked On NBA · Relayed report · 25 h ago around the league

  Daniel Gafford had 12 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and a couple of blocks while dealing with foul trouble. The Mavs kept Wembanyama away from the basket.

  “Are the Miami Heat Already in PANIC Mode After NIGHTMARE Start? Golden State Warriors LOOK Helpless” at 27:31 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Mavericks · 8 points · 28 h ago
  • Morez Johnson Jr and Gafford were each called for an illegal screen; Gafford's was challenged. A host said the referees appear to be emphasizing these calls. name not confirmed at 15:15
  • Daniel Gafford had 12 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks, including a big dunk over Wembanyama. A host thought he looked to have some bounce back compared with last year. at 16:50
  • A host said Gafford seemed to tweak his ankle at one point and did not know whether the broadcast said anything about it. The host was 'a little worried' about it. at 16:46
  • Later, a speaker mentioned Morez Johnson Jr right after the ankle comment, said 'he' was limping a little, and said he did not think he left the game. name not confirmed at 34:08
  • A host predicts Dallas will struggle on the glass against strong rebounding teams because of its personnel and the absence of Dereck Lively II. The host added that Gafford is not a strong defensive rebounder. at 18:00
  • A host said Gafford and P.J. Washington ("PJ") both look physically better than last year. at 18:10
  • Several times Dallas played Wembanyama with no bigs on the floor (no Rez, Moussa Cisse, or Gafford). A host speculated the staff likes skill over size since they get beaten on the boards anyway. at 33:30
  • A host credited Dusty May with having the team play hard and listed several high-effort players. This is the host's view, not a statement from May. at 31:03

  “Why Mavs Fans Are Upset Kyrie Irving Didn't Play in the Home Opener + Sergio De Larrea(!)” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Mavericks · 2 points · Oct 23
  • Daniel Gafford had five assists in 14 minutes and was used as the offensive hub. Morez Johnson Jr was also used as a hub at times. at 15:59
  • Center minutes: Gafford played about 15 and Morez Johnson Jr about 16. at 23:23

  “The Mavs Proved Something Huge Without Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving Against the Pacers” · listen ↗

• Podcast Hardwood Knocks · Opinion · Oct 19 around the league

  Mort says Dereck Lively is never available because of health issues and asks whether Dallas will overhaul the center spot.

  “1 Big Question For Every NBA Teams In The Western Conference” at 1:33:40 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pelicans host · Report · Oct 15 around the league

  Caveat: Dallas rested players, apparently after a trip to China. Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving and Daniel Gafford were among those who did not play, so the competition was weak.

  “SHOCKWAVE: Jeremiah Fears' Preseason LEAP Could TRANSFORM Pelicans Trajectory” at 10:29 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Mavericks · 4 points · Oct 23 partly checked episode
  • The Mavs started Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Cooper Flagg, PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, the same starting group as in game one. at 10:42
  • Gafford played only about 14 minutes but had five assists; the host said they used him as a hub. Cooper played only 17 minutes. at 3:42:17
  • Evan Sidery (reported): The hosts relayed an Evan Sidery report that the Warriors reached out to the Mavericks about trading Kristaps Porzingis for Daniel Gafford. at 11:11
  • The host dismissed the Gafford-for-Porzingis rumor as wishcasting, not a real rumor. at 11:32

  “FULL LIVE STREAM | Mavs vs Pacers | Dallas Mavericks Game Reaction | Cooper Flagg & Kyrie Irving” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Mavericks · 4 points · Oct 22
  • Isaac Harris: The host's opinion is that Morez Johnson Jr should start over Daniel Gafford. name not confirmed at 20:57
  • Isaac Harris: The host thought Daniel Gafford and Max Christie both struggled all around. at 22:06
  • Isaac Harris: Dallas showed three big-man looks in the first quarter against Houston: Gafford to start, Morez Johnson Jr as backup five, and PJ at a small-ball five to close the quarter. name not confirmed at 29:08
  • Isaac Harris: Host's matchup guess for Indiana: Max Christie probably stays on Haliburton, PJ guards Siakam, and Gafford takes "Zubats". at 28:45

  “Defining the WINS for the Dallas Mavericks | How to Beat Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Mavericks host · Opinion · Oct 22 name not confirmed

  The host says Naji Marshall, PJ Washington, Gafford, Zaccharie Risacher and Max Christie are not talkers on the court.

  “Cooper Flagg & Kyrie Irving Both Admitted to the Same Reason the Dallas Mavericks Lost” at 6:12 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Mavericks · 2 points · Oct 22 partly checked episode
  • Opening-night starters were Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington and Max Christie. Risacher did not start. at 1:26
  • The Mavs often played without a center, using small lineups with neither Johnson nor Gafford. at 48:19

  “FULL LIVE STREAM: Mavs vs Rockets | Dallas Mavericks Game Reaction | Cooper Flagg & Kyrie Irving Debut” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Mavericks · 8 points · Oct 16
  • Projected rotation from the dress rehearsal: Flagg, Irving, P.J. Washington, Gafford and Risacher, then Christie (rested), Naji Marshall, Morez Johnson Jr., de Larrea, and probably Sasser. at 14:30
  • In the starting group, Washington, Flagg and Risacher are okay-to-good defenders, but Gafford and Irving don't make things easier, and Irving shouldn't take hard assignments. No starter elevates the defense around him. at 16:02
  • P.J. Washington, Max Christie, Daniel Gafford (media day) (quoted): At media day, P.J. Washington admitted defense was hard last season and that he didn't play his best. The hosts say Washington, Christie and Gafford all described last season draining their defensive effort. at 17:08
  • The hosts wonder how soon starting Gafford and Morez Johnson together becomes a real conversation. They see Johnson as an immediate defensive-rebounding plus. at 22:54
  • The starting lineup was Irving, Gafford, Washington, Flagg and Risacher. 'Richie' has started every preseason game. The hosts say none of the starters makes defense easier for the others. at 18:33
  • A host wonders how soon a Gafford-Johnson Jr. starting frontcourt becomes a discussion, and sees Johnson Jr. as an immediate plus on the defensive glass. Hosts expect him to play a solid chunk of minutes. at 22:54
  • Hosts ask how soon talk will start of a Gafford and Johnson Jr. starting pairing, noting Gafford adds little on the defensive glass. A host thinks Johnson Jr. would immediately help on that end. at 22:54
  • Hosts see defense as a serious problem. The team has no point-of-attack defense, Christie is not a real point-of-attack stopper, and a Gafford–Irving pairing next to Washington, Flagg and Risacher gives only okay-to-good defenders. at 15:12

  “Outside of Cooper Flagg & Kyrie Irving, the Mavs Have BIG Questions | Dallas Mavericks Postgame” · listen ↗

• Podcast Dusty May (reported), via Locked On Mavericks · Relayed report · Oct 16 name not confirmed

  Isaac relays that the coaching staff Dusty May wants Daniel Gafford to be more of a facilitator and make decisions, not just be a rim-rolling big. Isaac says Powell already does this. He also says the front office Mike Schmitz likes centers who connect the offense.

  “Keeping Dwight Powell Over Moussa Cisse Would be a Mistake” at 6:24 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Mavericks · 2 points · Oct 15
  • Daniel Gafford did not play against the Pelicans; the host assumes the team simply didn't want to push it. at 2:18
  • The host expects Daniel Gafford to add rolling and to fight on the glass. at 4:08

  “This Dusty May Comment Says Everything About The Dallas Mavericks Offense We’re Seeing” · listen ↗

• Podcast Nick Angstadt, Locked On Mavericks · Report · Oct 15

  Gafford was out, Marcus Sasser was still out, and Santi Aldama and Morez Johnson Jr. were out. The host described the group as anybody 'thought of having an injury' during camp; no specific injuries were named.

  “Why the Dallas Mavericks Are SET on Naji Marshall Playing Point Guard | Mavs vs Pelicans Postgame” at 3:24 · listen ↗

Podcast items are our short summaries of what was said, credited to who said it; posts and stories link to the original. Opinions and rumors are labelled as such and are not checked facts.