The Dallas Mavericks are headed back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011. For some perspective on how long that's been, Mark Cuban was the majority owner, Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was roaming the sidelines, and Mavericks coach Jason Kidd was the starting point guard. As you can see, a lot can change in a decade or so. Not that things need that much time for serious change.
Take PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, for instance. On February 7, 2024, less than four months ago, they were both playing for incredibly bad teams. Teams with the second and third-worst records in the entire league, the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets. Then, the next day they were traded to the Mavs and now they're about to play in the NBA Finals.
Gafford and Washington celebrated that after Dallas wrapped up the Western Conference finals on Thursday night with Washington posting a short video of the two rescued basketball players on his Instagram Stories. (Language NSFW)
PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford went from playing with the Hornets and Wizards, to joining the Mavericks and heading to the NBA Finals.
“From the bottom, to the top!” 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GWjIPAV9jb
Washington was drafted by the Hornets with the 12th overall pick in 2019. In four-plus seasons he experienced one winning season and zero playoff appearances. While the team was horrible, Washington was a starter some seasons and came off the bench in others. Since he was traded to Dallas he started 28 out of 29 regular season games and all 17 postseason games.
Daniel Gafford has also started all 17 postseason games for the Mavs. He was also drafted in 2019, but he got a taste of the postseason with the Wizards in 2021 when the Philadelphia 76ers beat them 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs. Four months ago, Gafford was starting alongside Jordan Poole.
And now they're here.
STEPHEN DOUGLAS
