Mavs' Daniel Gafford Details Playing Alongside 'Dynamic Scorers' Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving
It’s only been a few weeks since Daniel Gafford was acquired by the Dallas Mavericks in a trade with the Washington Wizards, but it hasn’t taken the fifth-year big man long to realize just how special his new star teammates Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are.
"Just dynamic scorers,” Gafford told DallasBasketball.com when talking about playing alongside Doncic and Irving. “Just seeing some of the plays that Kyrie has finished, some of the plays that Luka has finished... Jesus Christ... you know? It's just like, man... at the end of the day, I'm in position to go rebound the ball, but I'm usually seeing the ball go through the net. ... Most of the time I just take off running because I know it's gonna go in, especially with some of the shots that Luka takes.”
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Although Gafford says he’s been “mesmerized” and “starstruck” by some of the things Doncic and Irving are capable of doing in the court, he’s also not surprised, given that he sees them practicing those tough shots on off days.
“I see [Luka] practice those all the time. With just the times that we've had practices, the times we've had shootarounds, he practices each one of those shots that he takes,” Gafford said. “Kyrie practices each one of those layups that he takes. The one where he finished over Wemby? He practices that. Seeing something like that, I just know it's something they do on a consistent basis, because they work on it.
“Seeing it in real time ... it's mesmerizing. I'm like starstruck every time they make something."
Gafford has fit in well during his first four games with the Mavs, averaging 12.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks and helping the team win all four of those contests. With two years left in his contract after this one, he’ll have plenty of time to continue being wowed by Doncic and Irving going forward.
