2025-26 Season
DANIEL GAFFORD
2025-26 Season
DANIEL GAFFORD
PBP Credit: Every play is analyzed from play-by-play data. Scorers get difficulty-adjusted credit, assisters get creation value based on the shot opportunity they created, and turnovers are classified by type. Shot difficulty is derived from 1M+ shots across 4 seasons. Full methodology
TEAM COMPARISON
of 17 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
Similar Players
Same position, closest production profile this season.
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 234 Forwards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
Daniel Gafford’s early season was defined by a drastic role shift, morphing from a dominant interior starter into an offensively invisible bench piece. When engaged as a primary roll man, he was utterly terrifying. Look no further than his 11/05 vs NOP performance, where he converted nearly everything around the basket for 15 points and a massive +19.0 impact score. However, when opponents neutralized his vertical spacing, his value quickly tanked. During the 11/07 vs MEM matchup, he failed to generate any rim pressure, scoring zero points and suffering a dismal -3.9 impact. Later in the stretch, a move to the second unit severely limited his touches, forcing him to rely entirely on his defensive motor to stay relevant. He managed exactly that on 12/20 vs PHI, attempting zero shots for a mere two points but still posting a +3.6 impact because his spectacular rim-protection clinic yielded a +6.9 defensive score.
A volatile mix of absolute interior dominance and sudden offensive disappearing acts defined this midseason stretch for Daniel Gafford. When opponents successfully neutralized him as a lob threat, his overall value plummeted. This was glaringly obvious on 01/08 vs UTA, where he attempted zero shots and posted a catastrophic -15.9 impact score. Yet, when engaged and fed high-percentage drop-offs, he was a two-way terror. Look no further than his 16-point, 10-rebound performance on 02/05 vs SAS. During that contest, explosive shot-blocking and masterful drop coverage generated a massive +15.5 impact. Even on nights where his offensive touches vanished entirely, he could still swing a game through sheer defensive intimidation. Despite scoring just two points on 01/24 vs LAL, he salvaged a +6.2 impact by acting as a total rim deterrent and completely altering the opponent's shot profile in the paint.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Boom-or-bust player. Gafford's impact swings wildly relative to his average — some nights dominant, others invisible. Scoring varies by ~6 points per game.
Reliable shooter — hits 45%+ from the field in 82% of games. You can count on efficient nights more often than not.
Defensive difference-maker. Gafford consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.
Getting better as the season goes on. First-half impact: -0.7, second-half: +5.0. That's a significant jump — could be a role change, confidence, or development clicking.
Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 11 games. Longest cold streak: 8 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Based on 56 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
56 games played
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