Daniel Gafford facts for kids
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Gafford with the Washington Wizards in 2021
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| No. 21 – Dallas Mavericks | |
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| Center / power forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 1, 1998 El Dorado, Arkansas, U.S. |
| High school | El Dorado (El Dorado, Arkansas) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 265 lb (120 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Arkansas (2017–2019) |
| NBA Draft | 2019 / Round: 2 / Pick: 38th overall |
| Selected by the Chicago Bulls | |
| Pro career | 2019–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| 2019–2021 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2019 | →Windy City Bulls |
| 2021–2024 | Washington Wizards |
| 2024–present | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2025 | →Texas Legends |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Daniel Gafford, born on October 1, 1998, is a professional basketball player from the United States. He plays for the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Daniel is a versatile player, able to play as both a power forward and a center. He was chosen by the Chicago Bulls in the 2019 NBA draft after playing college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Playing Multiple Sports in High School
Daniel Gafford was a highly sought-after player in high school. In 2015, many top colleges wanted him to play for their teams. These included Kansas, Vanderbilt, and Florida.
Before focusing on basketball, Daniel also played football. He was a wide receiver at El Dorado High School until ninth grade. Interestingly, he was also part of the marching band. Daniel believes being in the band helped him develop his basketball skills.
Choosing to Play for Arkansas
On August 1, 2015, Daniel Gafford decided to commit to the University of Arkansas. This meant he would play college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
College Basketball Career
Freshman Year Success at Arkansas
Daniel Gafford quickly made an impact in his first year with the Arkansas Razorbacks. In his very first game as a starter, he played perfectly. He made all 8 of his shots, grabbed 7 rebounds, and blocked 6 shots against Minnesota.
He also had an amazing game against No. 14 Auburn. In that game, he scored 21 points, got 10 rebounds, and blocked seven shots. After his first season, where he averaged 11.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, Daniel decided to stay at Arkansas. He chose to play his sophomore year instead of entering the NBA draft early. He was also named to the SEC All-Freshman team.
Sophomore Year Improvements and NBA Draft Prep
Daniel Gafford continued to improve in his second year at Arkansas. His average points went up to 16.9 per game. He also averaged 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. His strong performance earned him a spot on the 2019 SEC All-Defensive Team. He was also chosen as a 1st Team All-SEC player.
After his sophomore season, on March 18, 2019, it was announced that Daniel would not play in the 2019 National Invitation Tournament. Instead, he would focus on getting ready for the 2019 NBA draft.
Professional Basketball Journey
Starting with the Chicago Bulls (2019–2021)
Daniel Gafford was picked as the 38th player overall in the 2019 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. On July 8, 2019, the Bulls officially signed him to their team. He made his NBA debut on October 26, 2019. He came off the bench in a game against the Toronto Raptors and grabbed one rebound.
He also spent some time playing for the Windy City Bulls in the NBA G League. In January 2020, Daniel injured his thumb during a game against the Washington Wizards. It was announced that he would be out for a few weeks due to a dislocated thumb.
Moving to the Washington Wizards (2021–2024)
On March 25, 2021, Daniel Gafford was traded to the Washington Wizards. This trade involved three teams, including the Boston Celtics. During the 2021 NBA playoffs, Daniel set an amazing record. He had the highest field goal percentage ever for players with at least 15 shots, making 84.6% of his shots.
On October 18, 2021, Daniel signed a new contract with the Wizards. It was a three-year deal worth $40.2 million. On March 7, 2023, Daniel made a game-winning shot right at the end of the game. His putback shot helped the Wizards win 119–117 against the Detroit Pistons.
Joining the Dallas Mavericks (2024–Present)
On February 8, 2024, Daniel Gafford was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks sent Richaun Holmes and some draft picks to the Wizards for him. Just two days later, on February 10, Daniel played his first game for the Mavericks. He scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a big 146–111 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Soon after joining the Mavericks, Daniel set an incredible record. He made 33 shots in a row without missing. This is the second-longest streak of consecutive made field goals in NBA history. Only Wilt Chamberlain has a longer streak with 35. Daniel's streak lasted from March 5 to March 13, 2024.
Daniel finished the 2023–2024 season as the NBA's leader in field goal percentage. He made 72.5% of his shots, hitting 348 out of 480 attempts. He helped the Mavericks reach the 2024 NBA Finals, where they played against the Boston Celtics. The Mavericks lost the series in five games.
On January 15, 2025, Daniel had a career-high game, scoring 27 points. He also had 12 rebounds in a close 119–116 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Just five days later, on January 20, Daniel set another career high. He scored 31 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and blocked seven shots. He also had three assists and one steal in a 110–105 loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
Career Statistics
NBA Regular Season Stats
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Chicago | 43 | 7 | 14.2 | .701 | — | .533 | 2.5 | .5 | .3 | 1.3 | 5.1 |
| 2020–21 | Chicago | 31 | 11 | 12.4 | .690 | — | .659 | 3.3 | .5 | .4 | 1.1 | 4.7 |
| Washington | 23 | 0 | 17.8 | .681 | — | .672 | 5.6 | .5 | .7 | 1.8 | 10.1 | |
| 2021–22 | Washington | 72 | 53 | 20.1 | .693 | .000 | .699 | 5.7 | .9 | .4 | 1.4 | 9.4 |
| 2022–23 | Washington | 78 | 47 | 20.6 | .732 | — | .679 | 5.6 | 1.1 | .4 | 1.3 | 9.0 |
| 2023–24 | Washington | 45 | 45 | 26.5 | .690* | — | .706 | 8.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 10.9 |
| Dallas | 29 | 21 | 21.5 | .780* | — | .607 | 6.9 | 1.6 | .7 | 1.9 | 11.2 | |
| 2024–25 | Dallas | 57 | 31 | 21.5 | .702 | — | .689 | 6.8 | 1.4 | .4 | 1.8 | 12.3 |
| Career | 378 | 215 | 19.8 | .709 | .000 | .672 | 5.6 | 1.1 | .5 | 1.5 | 9.3 | |
NBA Playoff Stats
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Washington | 5 | 2 | 23.4 | .846 | — | .625 | 5.8 | .6 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 11.8 |
| 2024 | Dallas | 22* | 22* | 20.2 | .634 | — | .631 | 5.5 | .7 | .3 | 1.5 | 9.0 |
| Career | 27 | 24 | 20.8 | .671 | — | .629 | 5.6 | .7 | .4 | 1.6 | 9.5 | |
College Stats
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Arkansas | 35 | 26 | 22.6 | .605 | – | .528 | 6.2 | .7 | .5 | 2.2 | 11.8 |
| 2018–19 | Arkansas | 32 | 32 | 28.7 | .660 | – | .591 | 8.6 | .7 | .9 | 1.9 | 16.9 |
| Career | 67 | 58 | 25.5 | .635 | – | .562 | 7.4 | .7 | .7 | 2.1 | 14.5 | |
See also
In Spanish: Daniel Gafford para niños
