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Daniel Gafford Signs Three-Year, $54.4 Million Contract Extension with Dallas Mavericks

Originally posted on Dallas Hoops Journal
By Grant Afseth | Last updated Jul 13, 2025 10:56 AM ET

The Dallas Mavericks made it official on Saturday, announcing they’ve signed center Daniel Gafford to a multi-year contract extension while he was with the team in Las Vegas for NBA Summer League.

Although the Mavericks did not disclose contract terms per team policy, league sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com that Gafford’s new deal is a fully guaranteed three-year contract worth nearly $54.4 million. The extension excludes player or team options and begins in 2026–27. He will earn just under $17.3 million in the deal’s first year.

Gafford remains under contract for 2025–26 on the final year of his current deal, during which he is set to make roughly $14.4 million. He remains trade-eligible despite signing the extension.

The 27-year-old is coming off a career-best campaign, averaging 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.8 blocks across 57 games (31 starts) in 2024–25. He shot 70.2% from the field — trailing only Jarrett Allen among qualified players — and logged 23 consecutive games with at least one block, setting a franchise record. That streak was capped by a six-block performance against the Houston Rockets on Feb. 8.

He also recorded a career-long 16-game streak of double-figure scoring and delivered a dominant outing against Charlotte with 31 points (12-of-15 FG, 7-of-7 FT), 15 rebounds, seven blocks, three assists, and a steal. He became just the fourth player in NBA history to post at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, and seven blocks while shooting 80% from the field, joining Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Benoit Benjamin.

Since arriving in Dallas at the 2023–24 trade deadline, Gafford has emerged as one of the league’s most efficient finishers. He led the NBA in field goal percentage that season (72.5%) and made 33 consecutive field goals in March — the second-longest streak in league history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 35.

Across six NBA seasons with Chicago, Washington, and Dallas, the Arkansas native has averaged 9.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 378 career games (215 starts). His 71.0% career field goal percentage is the highest in NBA history among players with at least 2,000 attempts.

Now entering his third season with the Mavericks, Gafford solidifies his place in a frontcourt rotation that includes Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II. Dallas is continuing to build around size, rim protection, and vertical spacing.