Dallas Mavericks already dealt big injury blow to start training camp

Two days into training camp, and the Dallas Mavericks are already down a big piece.

Feb 23, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd reacts during the second quarter of the game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images | John Hefti-Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks started training camp in Vancouver on Tuesday in preparation for the 2025-26 season. Unfortunately, they've already suffered a big blow to their rotation as a new injury has been revealed.

Head coach Jason Kidd appeared on the "DLLS Mavs" show on Wednesday evening, where he revealed that center Daniel Gafford sprained his ankle and will be out for 2-3 weeks.

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd says that Daniel Gafford sprained his ankle yesterday in practice and will be out 2-3 weeks @DLLS_Mavs @DLLS_Sports #MFFL

— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) October 2, 2025

Gafford signed a three-year $54 million extension during the offseason, which was the highest he could sign for while still being trade eligible. That led some to believe he could be on the move soon, but that has yet to happen. Instead, the Mavericks will continue to roll into the season with their center duo of Gafford and Dereck Lively II, if they can stay healthy.

And health has been the biggest question mark for the Mavs for the last year or so. They were one of the most injured teams in the NBA last year, and the center rotation was no exception. Gafford missed 35 games last season, most of them due to a sprained MCL near the end of the year. He had been a pretty durable player in the years prior, but that MCL injury was a setback, and now he's dealing with a sprained ankle before the season even starts.

Sep 29, 2025; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) poses for a photo during the Mavericks 2025 media day at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

READ MORE: Klay Thompson admits the one thing with Mavericks that means more than points

Dallas Mavericks Looking to Shake Injury Bug

The Mavericks entered training camp mostly healthy. Kyrie Irving was still recovering from his torn ACL, but everyone else, according to Coach Kidd, was cleared for participation. That was big news to Mavs fans after they saw a beaten and battered team take the floor last season and still had question marks entering the season.

Most of those questions centered around Anthony Davis, who had a procedure this offseason to repair a detached retina, and Dereck Lively II, who had bone spurs removed a few months ago after a stress fracture last season.

Ankle injuries were also an issue last season. Jaden Hardy sprained his right ankle on four separate occasions last season, while P.J. Washington battled through an ankle injury early in the season that he admitted he returned too soon from.

The Mavs' training staff saw a lot of criticism last year after Nico Harrison dismissed the well-respected Casey Smith as the team's head athletic trainer a few years ago. That led to him letting go of the new head athletic trainer, Dionne Calhoun, this offseason.

READ MORE: Klay Thompson praises Cooper Flagg, alludes to struggles in first Mavericks practice

Stick with MavericksGameday for more FREE coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the offseason

Follow MavericksGameday on Twitter and Austin Veazey on Twitter

More Dallas Mavericks News

• Mavericks icon Dirk Nowitzki updates feelings on Luka Doncic-Lakers trade

• Ex-NBA All-Star explains difference between guarding Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry

• Why Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison just became NBA's laughing stock again

• Dirk Nowitzki's placement in NBA history called into question once again