2025 Stats
PTS
8.2
REB
6.5
AST
0.9
STL
0.8
BLK
1.4
ROS Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Gafford's first full season in Dallas was interrupted by injuries, limiting him to 57 games. He made 31 starts as well, as his main competition in Dereck Lively was limited to a total of 36 games. Gafford produced averages of 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.8 blocks in 21.5 minutes per game, shooting a sky-high 70.2 percent from the field. On a per-game basis in nine-category formats, he managed an eighth-round valuation. The Mavericks acquired Anthony Davis towards the end of the 2024-25 season, and Lively is expected to be ready for training camp after recovering from foot surgery. It's been widely reported that Davis and Lively will be the starting frontcourt, with Gafford and P.J. Washington coming off the bench. Meanwhile, No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg is projected to start at small forward. Despite the likely demotion, the Mavericks showed their commitment to Gafford with a three-year, $60 million extension. A role with minutes in the low 20s seems feasible, and he's shown that he can be a reliable fantasy producer in that amount of time. But as an added bonus, Gafford would likely see a spike in fantasy value should Davis or Lively miss time at any point this season, and it's no secret that durability is not a strength for either player. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a three-year, $54.38 million contract extension with the Mavericks in July of 2025. 
Three blocks in limited minutes
Gafford provided four points (2-2 FG), four rebounds, three blocks and one steal over 17 minutes during Tuesday's 120-111 loss to the Suns.
ANALYSIS
Since returning to the starting lineup Jan. 28, Gafford has failed to play 30-plus minutes in six of seven games, and he hasn't even reached 20 minutes in the last two. Despite the limited workload, the 27-year-old center remains a staunch rim defender, and over that seven-game stretch, he's averaging 10.6 points, 7.3 boards, 1.4 blocks, 1.3 assists and 0.9 steals in 23.9 minutes.
Since returning to the starting lineup Jan. 28, Gafford has failed to play 30-plus minutes in six of seven games, and he hasn't even reached 20 minutes in the last two. Despite the limited workload, the 27-year-old center remains a staunch rim defender, and over that seven-game stretch, he's averaging 10.6 points, 7.3 boards, 1.4 blocks, 1.3 assists and 0.9 steals in 23.9 minutes.
NBA Per Game Stats
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Per 36
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2025 NBA Game Log
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Stat Review
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How does Daniel Gafford compare to other players?
This section compares his stats with all players from the previous three seasons (minimum 200 minutes played)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
True Shooting %
67.5%
Effective Field Goal %
63.4%
3-Point Attempt Rate
0.0%
Free Throw Rate
51.4%
Offensive Rebound %
10.9%
Defensive Rebound %
21.1%
Total Rebound %
16.1%
Assist %
6.0%
Steal %
1.5%
Block %
5.3%
Turnover %
15.5%
Usage %
14.5%
Fantasy Points Per Game
22.5
Fantasy Points Per Minute
1.1
NBA Historical Fantasy Stats
Historical ADP
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Mavericks Depth Chart
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Mavericks Rotation: Minutes Breakdown
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Average Fantasy Points
Minutes
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Average Fantasy Points are determined when Daniel Gafford was active vs. non-active during the season. Click here to view average fantasy points for a different time period.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
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2019
After years of promise, Gafford finally rewarded managers with a breakout performance, completing easily his best season to date. He finished as the 38th-ranked player in standard leagues, averaging 11.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 3.0 combined steals and blocks. While it was a great season for Gafford, a midseason trade to Dallas did limit what he was able to do down the stretch. He carved out a role as a starter for his new team, however, his minutes fluctuated from game to game. The Mavericks likely view Dereck Lively as their center of the future, something that could become more obvious moving forward. Despite starting, Gafford regularly saw fewer minutes than Lively, seemingly playing as a backup. Should that trend continue into the 2024-25 season, it's hard to see Gafford replicating what he did last year. He still warrants attention in drafts as an elite per-minute fantasy producer. With that said, Lively is likely to be the preferred option in both fantasy and reality. Gafford should still have a relatively safe floor if he can crack at least 22 minutes per night. Should that drop to fewer than 20 minutes, there may not be enough meat on the bone for anyone not simply seeking blocks and rebounds.
More Fantasy News
Posts third straight double-double
Gafford registered 16 points (5-8 FG, 6-8 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists, four blocks and three steals in 33 minutes before fouling out of Thursday's 135-123 loss to the Spurs.
ANALYSIS
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Upgraded to available
Gafford (ankle) is available for Thursday's game against the Spurs, Noah Weber of TheSmokingCuban.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Questionable for Thursday
Gafford is questionable for Thursday's game versus the Spurs due to a sprained right ankle.
ANALYSIS
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Double-doubles in loss
Gafford racked up 10 points (4-5 FG, 2-4 FT), 12 rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal across 25 minutes during Tuesday's 110-100 loss to Boston.
ANALYSIS
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Returns Tuesday
Gafford (ankle) returned to Tuesday's game against the Celtics with 5:18 remaining in the third quarter, per the broadcast.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Targeted by Pacers
The Pacers expressed interest in trading for Gafford before the Feb. 5 deadline, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
ANALYSIS
The Pacers were keen on adding a center before the Feb. 5 deadline, and while they accomplished that goal by acquiring Ivica Zubac in a deal with the Clippers, they also considered other options before pulling the trigger on the Zubac deal. Gafford was one of the players they were reportedly interested in. Gafford was heavily linked to a move away from Dallas, but in the end, the big man remains a member of the Mavs organization. Don't be surprised if Gafford gets traded in the offseason, but the Pacers aren't expected to pursue him now that they have Zubac on their books.
The Pacers were keen on adding a center before the Feb. 5 deadline, and while they accomplished that goal by acquiring Ivica Zubac in a deal with the Clippers, they also considered other options before pulling the trigger on the Zubac deal. Gafford was one of the players they were reportedly interested in. Gafford was heavily linked to a move away from Dallas, but in the end, the big man remains a member of the Mavs organization. Don't be surprised if Gafford gets traded in the offseason, but the Pacers aren't expected to pursue him now that they have Zubac on their books.