DANIEL GAFFORD NEWS

Stuffs stat sheet Thursday Gafford notched 11 points (4-5 FG, 3-3 FT), four rebounds, three assists and two blocks across 17 minutes in Thursday's 109-84 preseason win over the Bucks.

Impact Gafford made the most of his starting role in this preseason finale, though his fantasy upside looking ahead to the regular season is uncertain. He's likely to split time with Dereck Lively at the five, and that rotation won't help either player boost their fantasy stock. Gafford averaged 11.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game across 74 regular-season appearances in 2023-24 while spending time with the Mavericks and Wizards.

OCTOBER 18 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to starting lineup Gafford will start in Thursday's preseason game against the Bucks, Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com reports.

Impact Dallas' head coach, Jason Kidd, has been tweaking the lineup constantly in the preseason and that will be the case again Thursday, with Gafford set to take over at center. Gafford is battling Dereck Lively for the starting role.

OCTOBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Expectations soar for Mavs with addition of Klay Thompson after run to NBA Finals

The Mavericks addressed their biggest scoring need by adding Klay Thompson in a sign-and-trade after their first trip to the NBA Finals since winning their only title in 2011

OCTOBER 12 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not starting vs. Utah Gafford is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's preseason game against the Jazz, Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com reports.

Impact The Mavericks are tweaking the majority of their starting lineup for this contest, and Gafford will be part of the second unit. Dereck Lively will start under center.

OCTOBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Mavs Training Camp Preview: Will Daniel Gafford Continue to Start? Daniel Gafford brought major energy to the Dallas Mavericks after being brought over in a trade deadline deal.

AUGUST 31 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Limited minutes in Game 5 loss Gafford recorded six points (3-5 FG) and three rebounds in 11 minutes during Monday's 106-88 loss to the Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Impact Gafford was efficient in his limited playing time in the Mavericks' Game 5 loss. However, the 25-year-old did see a massive decline in minutes in the Finals, during which he averaged 8.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.6 blocks across only 14.8 minutes. In comparison, during the final two Western Conference playoff series', Gafford averaged 10.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while shooting 67.1 percent from the field. The big man was a crucial addition for Dallas at the trade deadline, and he will remain under contract with the team until 2026-27, as the Mavericks will attempt to make it back to the Finals with their core group next season.

JUNE 18 • ROTOWIRE

Rookie Lively leaving an impression as Mavericks try to stay alive in NBA Finals

Rookie Dereck Lively II is leaving an impression on the global basketball stage as the Dallas Mavericks try to stay alive in the NBA Finals

JUNE 16 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tim Hardaway Jr., Daniel Gafford say if Mavs play 'desperate,' they can make history The Dallas Mavericks are in a do-or-die situation facing Friday’s elimination game against the Boston Celtics.

JUNE 13 • DALLASNEWS.COM

Back Daniel Gafford's scoring prop as Mavericks host Celtics in Game 3 of NBA Finals Here's why we like Gafford to his the over on his points prop in game 3 in Dallas.

JUNE 12 • INQUIRER.COM

Close to double-double in loss Gafford amassed 13 points (6-9 FG, 1-4 FT), nine rebounds and one block across 23 minutes during Sunday's 105-98 loss to the Celtics in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Impact Gafford was efficient from the field and finished just one rebound shy of a double-double, although he had problems dealing with Kristaps Pirzingis once again. The fact that the Celtics' big men can play on the perimeter has limited Gafford's influence on the defensive end. Gafford has now finished two rebounds or fewer shy of a double-double in three of his last four playoff appearances.

JUNE 10 • ROTOWIRE

Misses out on double-double Gafford amassed 11 points (3-3 FG, 5-6 FT), nine rebounds and one block across 20 minutes during Thursday's 124-103 win over the Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Fi...

Impact With the return of Dereck Lively to the lineup, Gafford saw his playing time decrease from 31 minutes in Game 4 to 20 in Game 5. Regardless, Gafford was able to maintain his productivity, recording at least one block for the 11th straight contest. The 24-year-old big averaged 10.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 24.4 minutes across the five games in the Western Conference Finals.

MAY 31 • ROTOWIRE

After last year's false start, Doncic-Irving duo in prime form to Mavericks move to Finals

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving just needed some time together for the Dallas Mavericks to thrive around this formed-not-so-long-ago All-Star pairing

MAY 31 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Doncic's 36 points spur Mavericks to NBA Finals with 124-103 toppling of Timberwolves in Game 5

Luka Doncic had a 20-point first quarter on his way to 36 points for his high this postseason, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-103 to breeze through th...

MAY 31 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mavericks get Lively back for Game 5 vs. Timberwolves after missing last game with neck sprain

Dallas Mavericks backup center Dereck Lively II was suited up for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals in Minnesota after being sidelined for the previous game because of a spra...

MAY 31 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mavs' Lively misses Game 4 loss to Wolves with sprained neck as Kleber returns from shoulder injury

The Dallas Mavericks were without center Dereck Lively II in their 105-100 loss to Minnesota in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals

MAY 28 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving each score 33 points as Mavs beat Wolves for 3-0 lead in West finals

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving scored 33 points apiece as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-107 for a 3-0 lead in the W...

MAY 27

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving each score 33 points as Mavs beat Wolves for 3-0 lead in West finals

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving scored 33 points apiece and the Dallas Mavericks made all the big plays late again, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-107 for a 3-0 lead in the We...

MAY 27 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mavs rookie Dereck Lively II leaves Game 3 of West finals after taking knee to head

Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II didn't return to Game 3 of the Western Conference finals against Minnesota due to a sprained neck after getting hit in the back of the head...

MAY 27 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Swats five shots in win Gafford amassed 16 points (8-10 FG, 0-2 FT), five rebounds and five blocks over 21 minutes during Friday's 109-108 win over the Timberwolves in Game 2 of the Western Conference Fin...

Impact Gafford was nearly perfect from the field and made his presence felt defensively, recording three or more blocks for the third time across his last eight playoff contests and tying his postseason-best mark in that category. Gafford's two-way play has been massive for Dallas against a frontcourt loaded with size like Minnesota's. He's averaging 11.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game over his last five contests.

MAY 25 • ROTOWIRE

Close to double-double in win Gafford accumulated 10 points (5-9 FG), nine rebounds and one block across 21 minutes during Wednesday's 108-105 win over Minnesota in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

Impact Gafford has been rotating at center with Dereck Lively, but the former Wizards big man continues to deliver every time he's called upon duty. He's scored in double digits in six of his last eight playoff contests, a span in which he's averaging 11.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest. It's only one game, but he looked quite good despite dealing with the presence and threat of Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns throughout the contest.

MAY 23 • ROTOWIRE

Mavericks stand tall against Timberwolves with big effort around the rim

Few teams can match the size of the Minnesota Timberwolves with their trio of towers in NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and NBA...

MAY 23 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mavs big men are quite the tandem, but now comes quite the challenge from towering Wolves

Daniel Gafford and rookie Dereck Lively II have given the Dallas Mavericks an inside presence they couldn't have imagined before the season

MAY 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Starts second half Gafford (shoulder) has returned for the second half, Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Gafford briefly went to the locker room in the second period grabbing at his left shoulder but was able to take the floor for the second half. If he's restricted due to the injury, Dereck Lively would be next in line for minutes.

MAY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to locker room Gafford exited the game in the second quarter of Game 3 on Saturday with a left shoulder injury, Tim MacMahon of ESPN reports.

Impact An injury to Gafford could be devastating for the Mavericks, as he's been a solid contributor down low for Dallas. If he's unable to return, then Dereck Lively would be in line for a bigger role.

MAY 11 • ROTOWIRE