If you’ve ever watched a Dallas Mavericks game and seen a blur of blue jerseys flying toward the rim for a lob, you’ve probably wondered how tall is Daniel Gafford exactly. He looks massive on the court. He plays even bigger. Honestly, the way he swallows up space in the paint makes him look like a 7-footer, but the official NBA books tell a slightly different story.
Basketball heights are weird. We've seen players "grow" two inches overnight when a new coach arrives or "shrink" when the league cracks down on official measurements. For Daniel Gafford, the numbers are more than just a line in a program. They are the reason he’s one of the most efficient rim runners in the league today.
The Official Measurement: How Tall is Daniel Gafford?
Let's get the data out of the way. Daniel Gafford is officially listed at 6 feet 10 inches. In the metric system, that's about 2.08 meters. He weighs in at 265 pounds, which is a significant jump from his college days at Arkansas where he was hovering around 234. That extra weight is basically all muscle, allowing him to hold his ground against the centers who actually do hit that 7-foot mark.
But here is where it gets interesting. Back when he was coming out of Arkansas in 2019, his pre-draft measurements were a bit more specific. He measured 6' 9.25" without shoes. With shoes? He was 6' 10.5". Most NBA teams just round up or down depending on how they want to market the player.
Does the half-inch matter?
Probably not to most people. But in the NBA, being a "6-10 big" puts you in a specific category. You're expected to be more mobile than the 7-footers but stronger than the 6-8 power forwards. Gafford fits this "tweener" height perfectly, which is why he looks so fluid when he's switching onto guards or sprinting the floor in transition.
Why He Plays Like He’s 7 Feet Tall
If you just looked at the height, you might think he’d struggle against the truly giant centers like Joel Embiid or Victor Wembanyama. He doesn't.
Basically, Gafford has what scouts call "functional length." It’s not just about how high the top of your head sits; it’s about where your hands can reach. Gafford has a wingspan of 7' 2.25". That is a massive horizontal reach.
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When you combine a 6-10 frame with a 7-2 wingspan, you get a standing reach of 9' 2". For context, the rim is 10 feet high. Daniel Gafford only has to reach up 10 inches to touch the rim. This is why he doesn't need a huge wind-up to dunk. He’s already right there.
- Vertical Leap: 36.5 inches
- Wingspan: 7 feet 2.25 inches
- Standing Reach: 9 feet 2 inches
- Official Height: 6 feet 10 inches
He's a quick leaper. That's the secret sauce. Some big guys are "load leapers," meaning they have to bend their knees and take a second to explode. Gafford is a "pogo stick." He’s off the floor before the defender even realizes the ball is loose.
Comparing Gafford to Other NBA Bigs
To understand the 6-10 height, you have to look at his peers.
Take his teammate P.J. Washington. P.J. is listed at 6' 7", but they actually have almost the exact same wingspan. The difference is the standing reach. Gafford’s torso and neck length give him an extra 4 inches of height over P.J., which is the difference between being a "small-ball four" and a "starting center."
Then you have guys like Maxi Kleber. Kleber is also listed at 6' 10". However, if you watch them side-by-side, Gafford feels much larger. Why? It's the shoulder width and the reach. Kleber has a wingspan that roughly matches his height. Gafford’s wingspan is nearly five inches longer than his height. That "plus-five" wingspan is elite and allows him to block shots that seem out of his range.
Honestly, it’s kinda crazy how much wingspan dictates NBA success over raw height. We’ve seen 7-footers who can’t rebound because they have "T-Rex arms." Gafford is the opposite.
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The Impact on His Stats (2025-2026 Season)
In the current 2025-2026 season, we are seeing the peak version of this physical profile. He’s averaging about 7.9 points and 6.4 rebounds, but the stat that really pops is the blocks. He’s still swatting about 1.4 shots per game despite playing just 20-odd minutes.
His efficiency is a direct result of being 6-10 with high-end mobility. He shoots over 60% from the field because he doesn't take jumpers. He doesn't need to. Why would you shoot a 15-footer when you can just use that 9-foot reach to drop the ball in the hoop?
He’s currently one of the leaders in field goal percentage because his shot diet consists almost entirely of dunks and put-backs. It’s a simple game, but when you’re built like a tank and move like a deer, simple works.
Recent Performance Snapshots:
- Jan 6, 2026 vs Kings: 10 points, 13 rebounds (Double-Double)
- Jan 3, 2026 vs Rockets: 9 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks
- Career Field Goal %: Over 70%
Common Misconceptions About His Size
People often think Daniel Gafford is "too small" to be a primary center. This usually comes from the fact that he's not 7 feet.
But look at the history of the league. Ben Wallace was 6' 9". Dwight Howard was 6' 10" in shoes. Al Horford has made a career at the five spot at 6' 9". Height is a baseline, but "tallness" in basketball is about how much of the air you can occupy.
Gafford occupies a lot of air.
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Another misconception is his weight. People still reference his draft weight of 230ish. If you see him now, he’s a massive human being. You don't survive in the paint at 230 pounds in 2026. He’s put in the work to get to 265, and it shows when he’s boxing out guys like Rudy Gobert or Jusuf Nurkic.
What’s Next for the Mavs' Big Man?
If you're looking to track his impact, keep an eye on his "contested shots" and "rim protection" data. The 6-10 height allows him to stay on the floor against small-ball lineups that would play a slower 7-footer off the court.
He's under contract with Dallas until 2029, so we're going to see a lot more of those 6-10 dunks in the American Airlines Center.
If you want to see his physical dominance in action, watch how he positions himself during the pick-and-roll. He uses his 6-10 frame to "screen and seal," creating a massive wall for the ball handler before diving to the rim.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the Mavs' next home game to see the height difference in person; TV doesn't do it justice.
- Watch his hand placement on defense; he uses that 7-2 wingspan to poke balls loose before they even get to the shooting motion.
- Follow his rebounding percentages against true 7-footers to see how his leap nullifies their height advantage.