Daniel Gafford

Athletic and efficient shot-blocking center whose lob athleticism and defensive impact have made him one of the NBA's most exciting young big men.

Named Mr. Basketball of Arkansas out of high school and a second-round pick in 2019, Gafford developed into one of the most efficient finishers in the NBA — consistently posting a field goal percentage among the league's highest relative to his role through a combination of explosive athleticism and intelligent movement around the basket.. Basketball of Arkansas in 2017 before committing to the University of Arkansas, where he earned first-team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive Team honours in his sophomore season. The Chicago Bulls selected Gafford in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft, and he developed into an efficient, high-energy centre renowned for his rim-running and shot-blocking ability, spending two seasons in Chicago before being traded to the Washington Wizards in 2021. Gafford became one of the league's most efficient finishers around the rim during his time in Washington, using his athleticism to convert lob passes and put-backs at an elite rate, before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2024, where he continued to provide reliable interior scoring and rebounding off the bench and in the starting lineup. Gafford has continued to develop as one of the Mavericks' most efficient frontcourt contributors, renowned throughout his career for one of the highest field goal percentages in the league relative to his role.

Defensive anchor, rim protector, efficient finisher

Reliable NBA center known for defensive presence

• NBA Finals 2024 (runner-up)