However much grumping you might do at the water cooler-about the stupid idiot coach and his refusal to trust the rookie, or about the big brick-handed lummox mucking up the offensive spacing, or about the sleazy executive with his hands on the purse strings-when it comes to games and scores and outcomes, you have to root for your guys. That's your end of the deal.
The post-Luka Doncic era is off to a rocky start for the Mavericks. After a 125-92 home blow-out to the San Antonio Spurs, followed by a 117-107 loss to the Washington Wizards - both teams that missed last year's play-in - the questions are mounting. They're also without Kyrie Irving, which isn't an excuse when you're being overpowered by teams in similar spots last season. Interestingly, Anthony Davis is doing everything: he leads Dallas in points, rebounds, steals and blocks,
Gafford missed the final two months of the Mavs' injury-ravaged 2024-25 season after suffering a Grade 3 sprain of the MCL in his right knee on Feb. 10. Since arriving in Dallas before the 2023 trade deadline, Gafford has averaged 11.9 points on 72.7% shooting, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks while splitting the starting center role with Dereck Lively II. He signed a three-year, $54 million contract extension this summer.
