Mavs Star Daniel Gafford “Fell Out of Love With the Game” 3 Years Before Luka Doncic Pairing; Opens Up on Low Phase With Chicago Bulls

The Dallas Mavericks‘ trade deadline acquisition, Daniel Gafford, opened up about facing his first team last night after they crushed the Chicago Bulls 92-127. Gafford’s arrival in Dallas coincided with a historic NBA feat and on-court chemistry with Luka Doncic, raising eyebrows across the league. After being selected 38th overall by the Bulls in the 2019 NBA Draft, Daniel played 74 regular season games over two seasons for the team before being traded during the 2020-21 season to the Washington Wizards.

The 25-year-old had a highly successful stint with the Wizards spanning four seasons, averaging 8.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 218 regular season games. While Washington might have benefited from Gafford’s re-evaluation, the same can’t be said for Chicago. During the presser after the game, he said, “When I got traded from Chicago, it was like one door closed and another door opened for me. It was another opportunity that I wanted to take advantage of at the end of the day. I feel that I’ve come here and I’ve locked into everything that I needed to lock in.”

During his stint with Chicago, Gafford admitted that he took things for granted and did not give it his best when he took the court. In the 74 games that he has played for the Bulls, Daniel averaged 5.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. The Bulls were also not a successful franchise during his time with the team, posting a 29-45 record (.392). Despite the lack of team success, Gafford was not willing to blame what he described as him being lazy in the situation he was in.

He further said, “I feel like in all honesty, just like where my work ethic is now, most definitely could have been a lot better in that area… I felt like I took a lot of stuff for granted… I felt like I didn’t get the job done. Whenever I stepped on the floor, I felt like I was always fidgety. I felt like I was always not ready, not locked in…”

Along the way, Gafford revealed that he experienced a feeling he described as falling out of love with basketball while playing for the Bulls. So he took advantage of being traded as an opportunity to re-evaluate his priorities. He said, “I kind of fell out of love with the game and I had to kind of like re-evaluate myself. Once I got traded to Washington, it’s like I took a step back and figured out how to bring myself back into loving the game. It was a lot when it came to just me mentally here in Chicago. I wanted to be better than what I was, of course. 

The move to the Mavericks seems to have done the trick. Gafford was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Richaun Holmes and a 2024 first-round pick (via OKC). In an astonishing display of efficiency and accuracy, Gafford went on to shatter the NBA record for most consecutive successful shots.  And, Luka Doncic finished with 14 assists and 12 rebounds but exited the blowout midway through the fourth quarter to end his NBA-record streak of 30-point triple-doubles at six.

In the 13 games he has played with Dallas, Gafford is averaging 10.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 1.6 blocks. Those numbers speak for itself.

Daniel Gafford has thrived with the Mavs

Gafford’s impeccable run began against the Pacers, followed by performances against the Heat, Pistons, and Bulls, showcasing his dominance in the paint with 12 dunks and numerous finishes close to the rim. His remarkable consistency has propelled him to lead the NBA in field goal percentage, boasting a staggering 70.6% from the field.

The 25-year-old is getting closer to breaking a historical record by none other than the legend Wilt Chamberlain. In the Mavs’ dominant win over the Bulls, the No. 21 hit a perfect 9-for-9, bringing his consecutive field goal streak to 28. This streak eclipses the previous record of 22, set by Derrick Favors during the 2019-2020 season. And it’s just seven shy of Chamberlain’s record set in 1967 during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers.

It is prominent that Daniel Gafford is doing much better with the Mavericks than with the two teams he was in previously. It’s almost like he finally found a home. What do you think of Gafford’s stunning performances of late? Can he become a cornerstone for the franchise in the foreseeable future? Let us know what your thoughts are!

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