Daniel Gafford Bio
Daniel Gafford is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) and listed at 265 lb (120 kg), he plays both the center and power forward positions, where his length, timing, and shot-blocking instincts have defined his role. He played college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks and was selected in the second round of the 2019 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls before going on to play for the Washington Wizards and, eventually, the Mavericks. A three-time Southeastern Conference (SEC) honoree and the 2017 Mr. Basketball of Arkansas, Gafford has built a reputation as one of the league’s most efficient interior finishers.
Early Life and Background
Daniel Gafford was born on October 1, 1998, in El Dorado, Arkansas. He grew up in the same south Arkansas community where he would later become a local sports star, attending El Dorado High School. During his childhood, Gafford was a multi-sport athlete who played football as a wide receiver through the ninth grade, an experience that helped him develop his coordination and physical toughness.
In high school, Gafford also participated in the marching band, and he has credited that activity with sharpening his rhythm, timing, and overall athleticism, traits that would later translate to the basketball court. By the time he was a teenager, his frame and shot-blocking ability had attracted the attention of several major college programs, including Kansas, Vanderbilt, and Florida.
Path to Professional Basketball
Gafford emerged as a four-star high school recruit, one of the most coveted prospects in the state of Arkansas. On August 1, 2015, he committed to the University of Arkansas, choosing to stay in his home state and play for the Razorbacks. His development during his senior year at El Dorado High School culminated in his selection as the 2017 Mr. Basketball of Arkansas.
At Arkansas, Gafford quickly established himself as an interior force. In his first collegiate start, he went a perfect 8 for 8 from the field with seven rebounds and six blocks against Minnesota. After his freshman season, in which he averaged 11.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, he was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. He returned for his sophomore year and elevated his production, averaging 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game, earning selections to both the SEC All-Defensive Team and the First-team All-SEC in 2019.
Daniel Gafford Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Daniel Gafford was the 38th overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, selected by the Chicago Bulls, and signed his rookie contract on July 8, 2019. He made his NBA debut on October 26, 2019, coming off the bench against the Toronto Raptors, and was also assigned to the Bulls’ G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, for the opening of the G League season. His rookie campaign was interrupted in January 2020 when he suffered a dislocated thumb just 1 minute and 21 seconds into a game against the Washington Wizards, costing him several weeks.
On March 25, 2021, Gafford was traded to the Washington Wizards in a three-team deal that also involved the Boston Celtics, bringing his time in Chicago to a close after less than two full seasons.
Wizards Breakthrough (2021–2024)
Gafford’s tenure in Washington began with a historic postseason performance. During the 2021 NBA playoffs, he set a record for field goal percentage with a minimum of 15 shot attempts, connecting at an 84.6% clip. On October 18, 2021, the Wizards rewarded him with a three-year, $40.2 million contract extension, signaling their belief in him as a long-term building block.
He continued to deliver clutch moments in a Wizards uniform, highlighted by a buzzer-beating putback that gave Washington a 119–117 win over the Detroit Pistons on March 7, 2023. Over three seasons in the nation’s capital, Gafford grew into one of the league’s most reliable rim-runners.
Dallas Mavericks Era (2024–Present)
On February 8, 2024, Gafford was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in a deal that sent Richaun Holmes and draft compensation to Washington. Two days later, he made his Mavericks debut in dominant fashion, scoring 19 points and grabbing nine rebounds in a 146–111 rout of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Shortly after his arrival, he went on a streak of 33 consecutive made field goals from March 5 to 13, 2024, the second-longest such streak in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 35.
Gafford finished the 2023–2024 season as the NBA’s field goal percentage leader at 72.5%, converting 348 of his 480 shots, and helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals, where they fell to the Boston Celtics in five games. In January 2025, he posted a career-high 27 points and 12 rebounds against the New Orleans Pelicans, then followed that with 31 points, 15 rebounds, and seven blocks in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets on January 20. On July 12, 2025, he signed a three-year, $54 million contract extension with Dallas.
Playing Style and Strengths
Daniel Gafford’s game is built around his combination of size, vertical pop, and short-area finishing. He is at his best as a rim runner in pick-and-roll sets, where his quick elevation and catch radius make him a high-percentage lob threat. Defensively, his timing as a shot blocker and his ability to protect the paint without fouling have made him a trusted interior anchor.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gafford’s signature moments include his 2021 playoff field goal percentage record, his 33 consecutive made field goals in 2024, and his role in helping Dallas reach the 2024 NBA Finals. His career-high 31-point, 15-rebound, seven-block performance against Charlotte in January 2025 underscored his continued growth as a two-way center.
Daniel Gafford Career Highlights
Across his stops with the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, and Dallas Mavericks, Daniel Gafford has been recognized for his efficiency, defense, and interior scoring. His college and high school résumé includes the 2017 Mr. Basketball of Arkansas award, a 2018 SEC All-Freshman team selection, and 2019 SEC All-Defensive and First-team All-SEC honors.
NBA Highlights
In the NBA, Gafford is best known for his record-setting 84.6% field goal shooting during the 2021 playoffs, his 33-game consecutive made-field-goal streak in March 2024, and his 2023–2024 league lead in field goal percentage at 72.5%. His first signature win as a Maverick came in his debut against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and his most recent milestone came with his three-year, $54 million extension in July 2025.
Daniel Gafford Family
Family Background and Roots
Daniel Gafford grew up in El Dorado, Arkansas, where he attended El Dorado High School and became a local sports figure. His commitment to the in-state Arkansas Razorbacks reinforced his ties to the community that shaped his early development as an athlete.
Personal Life
Outside of basketball, Gafford is an avid anime fan who has cited Black Clover as a favorite series. He has named a dog after a character from the show and has explained how the protagonist Asta’s never-give-up mentality resonates with his own approach to the game. Gafford also has anime-inspired tattoos.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been a milestone stretch for Daniel Gafford in a Mavericks uniform. He opened the year with a career-high 27 points and 12 rebounds against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 15, then elevated that mark just five days later with 31 points, 15 rebounds, and seven blocks against the Charlotte Hornets on January 20, demonstrating a broader offensive range.
On July 12, 2025, the Mavericks locked in their frontcourt future by signing Gafford to a three-year, $54 million contract extension that runs through the 2027–2028 season. Coming off a Finals run and a league-leading field goal percentage from the prior season, Gafford entered 2025–2026 as a central piece of Dallas’s rotation, with continued expectations as a lob threat, rim protector, and high-efficiency finisher around the basket.
