VANCOUVER, British Columbia — It’s only the second day of training camp for the Dallas Mavericks, but injuries have already begun to pile up.
Daniel Gafford sprained an ankle during Tuesday’s opening practice at Simon Fraser University, according to Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, putting the team’s frontcourt depth to the test just days before the first preseason game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Kidd also said P.J. Washington bumped his head but should be available for Friday’s practice. Brandon Williams suffered a hamstring strain and will miss one week. Dante Exum has also missed both practices because of an undisclosed reason.
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Washington, a seventh-year forward, bumped his head after a collision with Jaden Hardy during a set of one-on-one drills, a person familiar with the situation told The Dallas Morning News. Neither Washington or Gafford was seen during the practice windows that are open for the media and both missed Wednesday’s session.
The News witnessed Washington being escorted out of the gymnasium on Tuesday by a member of the Mavericks’ medical staff and a team security officer midway through the practice session. Gafford was spotted walking gingerly on Wednesday, with his right ankle wrapped, while the rest of the Mavericks practiced inside the West Gym at Simon Fraser University.
Kidd said maintaining good health is the main key to the team being on the right track for the season, before disclosing the first set of injuries.
“If we’re all walking out of here smiling and healthy,” Kidd said, “that’s when I’ll know we’re right where we’re supposed to be.”
Gafford will miss the remainder of training camp and possibly the entire preseason to nurse the ankle, said Kidd.
Washington and Gafford were hindered by injuries last season, appearing in 57 games each. Both players, acquired during the 2023-24 trade deadline, signed long-term extensions with the Mavericks this summer.
Losing key members of the rotation is never ideal. The Mavericks, who finished 39-43 in a 2024-25 season ravaged by injuries, were without Luka Doncic and Dante Exum for the entirety of last year’s training camp in Las Vegas. It resulted in a lack of continuity early in the season and Dallas had to gradually build chemistry as it regained positioning in the Western Conference until Doncic was traded in February.
The Mavericks are already without star guard Kyrie Irving. He does not have a timetable for a return as he recovers from ACL surgery on his left leg, but he is expected to miss multiple months of the season. The veteran guard participated in post-practice shooting drills with his teammates on Tuesday and Wednesday, remaining for individual workouts with new assistant coach Phil Handy.
Now, they’ll have to navigate life without Gafford in the short term.
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