Dallas Mavericks Power Forward Impresses In Viral Offseason Performance Against Holmgren…

With most of the NBA’s major summer events now concluded, the Dallas Mavericks are enjoying a much-needed break this August. They are gearing up for another demanding 82-game season, which will likely include playoff action.

Despite this downtime, professional basketball players don’t completely step away from training. Many Mavericks players are diligently preparing for the upcoming season. Notably, Dwight Powell is making an impact on the Canadian National Team at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

While Powell is staying in form through Olympic competition, the rest of the Mavericks roster is also actively honing their skills. Recent footage has shown Kyrie Irving, Markieff Morris, Jaden Hardy, Daniel Gafford, and Klay Thompson participating in competitive open runs this offseason.

Daniel Gafford shows Mavericks still own the Thunder

Among all the videos released, Gafford’s tape was by far the most thrilling to watch, and it’s sure to get Mavericks fans eagerly anticipating the next season.

During the Dashletics NBA Open Run, Gafford went head-to-head with Western Conference counterpart Chet Holmgren. Although Holmgren scored plenty of points in their one-on-one matchups, Gafford’s highlight reel was just as captivating, showcasing numerous impressive plays against Holmgren on both offense and defense.

Although players might not be giving their all during these open runs, they still put in a strong effort most of the time. Therefore, Mavericks fans should appreciate how effectively Gafford was able to take on Holmgren, both by driving to the basket and in the post, to score some impressive points.

In one of the highlight clips, Gafford even blocked Holmgren’s shot and sank a corner three-pointer. This performance demonstrated Gafford’s impressive skill against Holmgren, one of the NBA’s most talented big men. This is particularly significant given that both players had something to prove, especially after the Mavericks narrowly defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals last season.

With both teams expected to be rivals for the remainder of the decade, as both have promising, young rosters with championship potential, it’s important for Gafford to maintain his strong play against Holmgren in future matchups.

The Mavericks were physically dominant against the Thunder in last season’s playoffs, but the Thunder have addressed their interior defense by adding rim protector Isaiah Hartenstein this offseason. This addition is intended to mitigate some of the weaknesses Holmgren has as a non-traditional center. Consequently, the Mavericks and Gafford will need to elevate their game even further to compete effectively against the Thunder next season.