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 |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Daniel Gafford (born October 1, 1998) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Daniel is known for playing both the power forward and center positions. He first played college basketball for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Later, he was chosen in the 2019 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.
Contents
Daniel Gafford's Basketball Journey
High School Days
Daniel Gafford was a highly-rated basketball player in high school. Many top colleges wanted him to play for their teams. Before focusing on basketball, Daniel also played football as a wide receiver. He even played in the marching band! He says being in the band helped him develop his skills. In 2015, Daniel decided to play college basketball for the University of Arkansas.
Becoming a College Star
Daniel quickly made a name for himself at the University of Arkansas. In his very first game as a starter, he made all 8 of his shots. He also grabbed 7 rebounds and blocked 6 shots. In another big game, he scored 21 points, got 10 rebounds, and blocked 7 shots. After his first year, Daniel was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. This means he was one of the best new players in his college league.
He played even better in his second year. He averaged 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. Because of his great defense, he was named to the 2019 SEC All-Defensive Team. He was also chosen as a 1st Team All-SEC player. After his sophomore year, Daniel decided to get ready for the NBA draft.
Playing in the NBA
Starting with the Chicago Bulls
In 2019, Daniel Gafford was picked by the Chicago Bulls in the NBA draft. He was the 38th player chosen overall. He officially signed with the Bulls in July 2019. Daniel played his first NBA game on October 26, 2019. He came off the bench and grabbed one rebound. Sometimes, he also played for the Windy City Bulls. This is a team in the NBA G League, which helps players develop their skills. In January 2020, Daniel hurt his thumb during a game. He had to miss a few weeks to recover.
Time with the Washington Wizards
In March 2021, Daniel was traded to the Washington Wizards. He quickly showed how good he was. During the 2021 NBA playoffs, Daniel set an amazing record. He made 84.6% of his shots! This was the best field goal percentage ever for a player with at least 15 shots in the playoffs. In October 2021, Daniel signed a new contract with the Wizards. It was for three years and $40.2 million. On March 7, 2023, Daniel made a game-winning shot right at the buzzer. This helped the Wizards win a close game against the Detroit Pistons.
Joining the Dallas Mavericks
On February 8, 2024, Daniel Gafford was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Just two days later, he played his first game for the Mavericks. He scored 19 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in a big win.
Soon after joining the Mavericks, Daniel set another impressive record. He made 33 shots in a row without missing! This is the second-longest streak in NBA history. Only Wilt Chamberlain had a longer streak with 35. Daniel finished the 2023–2024 season as the NBA's leader in field goal percentage. He made 72.5% of his shots. He helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals, where they played against the Boston Celtics.
Daniel has continued to improve his game. On January 15, 2025, he scored a career-high 27 points. Five days later, he set a new career high with 31 points! He also had 15 rebounds and 7 blocks in that game.
See also
In Spanish: Daniel Gafford para niños
