Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford underwent surgery for a high ankle sprain after injuring it in the first day of training camp. That bad news came as a huge blow on October 1, 2025. Gafford picked up the injury while preparing for the upcoming NBA season. The new season starts with a home opener against the San Antonio Spurs on October 22. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd later confirmed the injury and indicated Johnson could be out for two to three weeks.
Gafford inked a three-year, $54 million extension in January. Fans envisioned him being a key piece to the Mavericks starting five. Acquired just days before the 2023 trade deadline, he’s quickly affirmed why he’s left such a positive impression on the team. In his time with Dallas, Gafford has put up 11.9 points per game. He’s converted 72.7% of his field goals in the restricted area. He’s adding a jaw-dropping 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. This is an example of his changing efforts on both sides of the court.
Prior to his recent injury, Gafford was looking to bounce back after an awful finish to last season. That took him out the final two months of the Mavericks 2024-25 season. This was the result of a Grade 3 sprain of his right knee medial collateral ligament (MCL), which he incurred on Feb. 10. As the current campaign got underway, he was in a tight spot. His mission this season was to establish himself as an established and reliable starter, pairing with Dereck Lively II to co-occupy Duke’s starting center position.
It is unclear if this recent ankle sprain will affect Gafford’s availability for the upcoming season opener on Oct. 25 against the San Antonio Spurs. If he’s unable to make it back before then, the Mavericks’ game plan will be severely hampered. Just like any other team, they’re going to want to open the season with a bang.
Leave a Reply