It's purely anecdotal but this season, like since 2017, the crowned NBA champion team will have a former Wizards player in its group. If it's Boston, it'll be Kristaps Porzingis; if it's Dallas, Daniel Gafford. Both men have even done more than just wear that Washington jersey: they did it at the same time, during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons.
As we know, the Latvian was then sent to the Celtics during the offseason. The pivot stayed a few more months, before his transfer to Dallas on February 8.
A golden opportunity in Dallas
The next day, however, he had an important meeting… “When I was traded, we were going with the Wizards to Boston to face the Celtics”, he rememberssince he and his teammates were scheduled to play the best team in the East on February 9.
The GM of the capital franchise, Will Dawkins, then gave him a phone call to tell him not to fly to Massachusetts. “I got to the training room and he called me to tell me there was a possibility I could go to Dallas. I told him to keep me informed. I stayed in the parking lot for 30 minutes. He called me back to confirm that I was traded to Dallas.”he says.
Finding yourself in Dallas in February was certainly no guarantee of playing in the Finals four months later, but it was clearly a change of world given that the Wizards were among the worst teams in the league.
“In terms of the emotions surrounding the transfer, you can either be angry or happy”believes Daniel Gafford. “I would say I didn't have an exaggerated reaction because I had experienced that before. I took it as one door closing and another opening. A new opportunity for me to progress in my career. »
A reunion with Kristaps Porzingis
Not wanting ” overthinking “ to have the “good approach” upon arriving in Dallas, the pivot and PJ Washington, who have known each other since very young, changed the face of the Mavericks, now in the Finals against Boston.
Which therefore means that Daniel Gafford will reunite with his former Washington teammate, Kristaps Porzingis. After crossing swords in training for a season and a half, they will fight for the title.
“He always gave me advice. He was one of the guys who constantly motivated me, in terms of what I was doing on the field,” says the Texan pivot speaking of the Latvian, who will represent a hell of a challenge in defense. “When you get close to him, he can still shoot you over the head. Above all, you must not be aggressive when he makes his sweeping movement. »
| Daniel Gafford | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2019-20 | CHI | 43 | 14 | 70.1 | 0.0 | 53.3 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 5.1 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 54 | 15 | 68.4 | 0.0 | 66.7 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 7.0 |
| 2020-21 * | CHI | 31 | 12 | 69.0 | 0.0 | 65.9 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 4.7 |
| 2020-21 * | W.A.S. | 23 | 18 | 68.1 | 0.0 | 67.2 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 5.6 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 10.1 |
| 2021-22 | W.A.S. | 72 | 20 | 69.3 | 0.0 | 69.9 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 5.7 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 9.4 |
| 2022-23 | W.A.S. | 78 | 21 | 73.2 | 0.0 | 67.9 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 9.0 |
| 2023-24 * | All Teams | 74 | 25 | 72.5 | 0.0 | 67.4 | 2.6 | 5.0 | 7.6 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 11.0 |
| 2023-24 * | W.A.S. | 45 | 27 | 69.0 | 0.0 | 70.6 | 2.9 | 5.1 | 8.0 | 1.5 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 10.9 |
| 2023-24 * | DAL | 29 | 22 | 78.0 | 0.0 | 60.7 | 2.2 | 4.7 | 6.9 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 11.2 |
| Total | 321 | 20 | 71.1 | 0.0 | 66.8 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 5.4 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 8.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
